TO WHAT ARE YOU DEVOTED? 066

Are you ever tempted to skip devotion? Do you do any form of devotion? Having a devotional routine refers to having a dedicated time to strictly connect with God through reading, praying, singing or even journaling. I typically like to advise against listening to sermons only, as a devotional, and don’t believe sharing your faith or “working” for God falls into this category. It is important to just connect, this is where your fountain is filled that it may be poured out to others, and sustain you through the day, this is what Jesus did when He frequented the mountains in the early morning, or –until— the early morning (sometimes He had devotion all night!)

Being in school or working an early morning job (or any commitment) is the enemy called circumstance’s tried and true reference point to convince me that I don’t have time to have devotion. However, except for rare occasions I do not deviate from what I am scheduled to do. Devotion to God must take precedence, and through devotion I feel better prepared to meet the demands of the day successfully.

Every morning take time to begin your work with prayer. Do not think this wasted time; it is time that will live through eternal ages. By this means success and spiritual victory will be brought in. The machinery will respond to the touch of the Master’s hand. God’s blessing is certainly worth asking for, and the work cannot be done aright unless the beginning is right. The hands of every worker must be strengthened, his heart must be purified, before the Lord can use him effectively. {7T 194.3}

Begin with a right beginning. Do not compromise. I love the idea that the time we invest with God will pay the dividends of eternity.

Many seem to think the time lost that is devoted to seeking the Lord. But when He comes in to co-operate with human effort, and men and women co-operate with Him, a marked change will be seen in the work and in the results. Every heart that has been visited by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will reveal the working of the Spirit of God in voice, mind, and character. The machinery will move as if oiled and guided by a masterly hand. There will be less friction when the spirit of the worker receives the oil from the two olive branches. The holy influences will be imparted to others in words of kindness, tenderness, love, and encouragement. {7T 195.3}

If you do this already, be encouraged to continue, if you don’t, I hope you may start. The minimum should be devotion in the morning (ideally the first thing done) and sometime in the evening. I promise you; your life will change! I know it can be hard and all but once this has become habit and routine it will be second nature, and you just won’t feel right without it. As a matter of fact, I believe very little spiritual growth can ensue without it. Spending a good enough time to genuinely connect with Jesus is important but consistency is more important than duration.

If we would live a true Christian life, the conscience must be quickened by constant contact with the word of God. All the precious things which at infinite cost God has provided for us will do us no good; they cannot strengthen us and produce spiritual growth unless we appropriate them. We must eat the word of God—make it a part of ourselves. {7T 195.1}

I pray we may be devoted to a WHO, rather than a what. That's really it, in its simplicity. Devotions are really just about Who we are devoted to being more important than WHAT we are devoted to.

Touch Jesus, eat Him, drink Him, love Him, speak to Him, listen to him, eventually, you will become like Him.

Father, help us with this please,

IJN,

Amen.

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