5/24/2012 EFFECTIVE 1 DAILY DEVOTIONS « A.K.A. Quiet Time » What Are Daily Devotions? 2 • Quiet time is NOT best done by reading a chapter from a devotional book before you start your day. • • Remember, God has promised to bless His Word, not illustrations about it. • • The result has become “ McTruth ” rather than the rich feast of the deep things of God. • What Are Daily Devotions? 3 • “Hold everything! Wait a minute! Have you read the Scripture for today? It's only eight short verses, and it will take you only 45 seconds. No, don't lay this booklet down and mumble to me, "I'm in a hurry and you're delaying me." I see you're eating breakfast this morning even though you're late. You take time to feed your body, but you were going to starve your soul…” What Are Daily Devotions? 4 • “…Take 45 seconds and read Psalm 119:33 -40. If you don't read the rest of this devotional, that's okay--as long as you read the Bible. These articles in Our Daily Bread are not designed to be a substitute for the Bible; they are meant to stimulate your desire to read more of the Bible. If reading this booklet has caused you to neglect the Word of God, please throw this booklet in the wastebasket!" What Are Daily Devotions? 5 • Quiet time is also NOT reading a small passage of Scripture each day in order to find some happy moral to brighten our day. • The purpose of this time is to quiet our minds before God so that He can share His heart with us. God wants to spend time with you. And we learn to enjoy spending time with Him! What Are Daily Devotions? 6 • Couples who are in love do not need to be coerced into spending time together. • Our walk with God is much like a spiritual marriage. Jesus, the Bridegroom, has sought us out for an eternal relationship. • The Bible & prayer are at the core in developing this relationship. Why Have Daily Devotions? 7 God Created People For Fellowship • Genesis 1:26 – “…make man in our image…” • 1 Corinthians 1:9 – "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.“ • 1 John 1:3-4 – “…truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that you joy may be full.” • Why Have Daily Devotions? 8 Jesus’ Quiet Time Was A Source Of His Strength • Personal fellowship with His Father in heaven was a top priority of Jesus’ life on earth • Mark 1:35 – “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and prayed.” • If a time of quiet prayer was a priority for Jesus, how much more do we need to do it. 1
5/24/2012 it. Why Have Daily Devotions? 9 D.L. Moody (From His Biographer) : “He was an early riser. He generally rose about daybreak in summer, devoting the early hours to Bible study and communion with God. He used to say that one who followed this plan could not get more than twenty-four hours away from God .” Why Have Daily Devotions? 10 Have You Ever Gone Without Food For A Day? • If you go without food for too long, your strength will begin to diminish. The same is true in our spiritual lives. • It is a sign of health for a Christian to have an appetite for the Word of God. • Many Christians consistently try to get by with only one meal a week — Sunday morning. • Why Have Daily Devotions? 11 How Long Would You Go Without Bathing? • A daily quiet time is like a spiritual bath • Ephesians 5:26 - "that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word“ • John 15:3 - "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." The Privilege In Devotions 12 • An opportunity to worship God Psalm 29:2 • We get direction from God Psalm 25:4-5 • We gain delight in God Psalm 34:8 • We become more Christ-like Acts 4:13 Excuses For Not Doing Devotions 13 • I do not have the time for daily devotions - We all have the same 168 hours each week - We make time for what is important to us - If you are too busy to have daily devotions, then you are too busy, period. (SIMPLIFY!) • "I have so much to do today that I must spend at least three hours in prayer." – Martin Luther Are You As Busy As This Guy? 14 We are not as busy as this great man: George Mueller - After having read the Bible through one hundred times with increasing delight, made this statement: " I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God. Friends often say, 'I have so much to do, so many people to see, I cannot find time for Scripture study…' Are You As Busy As This Guy? 15 “…Perhaps there are not many who have more to do than I. I’ve had annually about 30,000 letters, as pastor of a church with 1,200 believers, Besides, charge of five immense orphanages; the printing of millions of tracts, books, and Bibles; but I have always made it a rule never to begin work until I have had a good season with God and His Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful." 2
5/24/2012 His Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful." Tips for Your Devotions 16 • No script can be written for you. • We can be as close as we want to be with Jesus each day. • The following are some suggestions for you to consider as you plan your quiet time with God. • Begin With The Right Attitude 17 Pray For These Attitudes: • Expectancy: You will expect to have a good time of fellowship with God. • Reverence: Your heart will be prepared and still before His majesty and holiness. • Alertness: You will give Him your best focus. • Teachability: You will come for the purpose of doing what God asks (despite your opinions). • Choose a Consistent Time 18 • Always give God the best part of your day. For most of us, early in the morning usually works best. • • Missionary Hudson Taylor once said, "You don’t tune up the instruments after the concert is over." Choose a Consistent Time 19 “The best time to converse with God is before worldly occasions stand knocking at the door to be let in: The morning is, as it were, the cream of the day, let the cream be taken off, and let God have it. Wind up thy heart towards heaven at the beginning of the day, and it will go the better all the day after. He that loseth his heart in the morning in the world will hardly find it again all the day. O! Christians, let God have your morning meditations.” ( Puritan Thomas Watson ) Choose a Consistent Time 20 The Bible encourages any time • Psalm 63:1 – “early will I seek You” • Nehemiah 8:3 – “midday” • Psalm 119:148 – “night watches” • Psalm 1:2 – “day and night” • What matters most is that you establish a regular time. Choose a Consistent Time 21 Earl Cairns-Lord, Chancellor of England, was an extremely busy man, but no matter what time he reached home in the evening, he always arose at the same hour to have his quiet time the next morning. His wife said, “We would sometimes get home from Parliament at two o’clock in the morning, but Lord Cairns would always arise at the same hour to pray and study the Bible. ” He later attributed his success in life to this practice. How Much Time Should We Spend? 22 • Aim to spend not less than fifteen minutes a day with God in your personal devotions. • Out of the 168 hours we all have in a week that will only take, 1 hr. and 45 min. of your weekly routine. 3
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