The discipline of spending time alone with God in Daily Devotions is sometimes one of the most difficult duties we face in our Christian Walk. Although we all recognize our Daily Quiet Time with God as an essential component in our Spiritual Growth some of us still consistently neglect it.
Read your Bible, pray every day,
And you’ll Grow, Grow, Grow!
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray
And you’ll Shrink, Shrink, Shrink!
This popular Children’s Bible Action Song paints a vivid picture of the extreme importance of being disciplined in accomplishing our Daily Devotions. Clearly demonstrated here is a harvest based on our choice: if we practice discipline we will “grow”; on the other hand if we neglect discipline we will “shrink”.
25 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. 26 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. 27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (AMP)
As implied Daily Devotions should occur every day and must be absolutely devoted to God. However because of daily distractions and genuine concerns of life this noble purpose is frequently forsaken. Martha and Mary’s diverse reactions to spending time with Jesus perfectly portrays some of those difficulties associated with maintaining Discipline in our Daily Devotions.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
Jesus described Mary’s behavior as choosing “what is better”: the discipline of daily sitting at His feet for devotions and “grow, grow, grow”.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)
Jesus himself was not exempt from practicing the discipline of having quiet times with God regularly, how much more then must we, who are mere flesh and blood, no matter the difficulty.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
I find that early in the mornings when many people are asleep is my best time to pray and engage in studying of the Word of God. If I miss my general time frame, I tend to rush through prayer and indeed things could be a distraction to me. We must engage in personal devotions at whatever time our appointment is with the Lord. Sometimes the distractions of life may prevent us doing devotions but we ought not allow that to become a pattern or our relationship with God will be harmed. It’s good sometimes to give little more time to spending with God. Most importantly we must workout our own salvation.
Amen 🙏 🙏 🙏… Good Encouragement for me to persist in having my Daily Devotions