January 18, 2015

Your Daily Devotions (1)

“Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You”

(Psalm 119:38 NKJV).  

 

The word “devotion” implies total commitment to someone – giving them your time and attention, enjoying their company, seeking to please them, and making them a priority in your life. And that should be the goal of your daily devotions. But here are two pitfalls to look out for and avoid:

(1) “Me‑itis.” God has promised to bless you. But when you seek God’s blessing instead of pursuing a relationship with God, you become me‑centered rather than Christ‑centered. The truth is, you can pray until you’re blue in the face and God won’t give you certain things if you’re not mature enough to handle them. More than anything in life, Abraham wanted a son. And God gave him one. Yet when God asked him to offer his son as a sacrifice, he didn’t hesitate. Abraham proved there was nothing he loved more than God, therefore God promised to bless and multiply all that he possessed (Genesis 22:17). Abraham became one of the most successful men in his generation, but his real claim to fame was that God referred to him as a “friend” (Isaiah 41:8).

(2) Being too busy. One of the dangers in working for God is that you can fail to spend time worshiping God. The Psalmist said, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name” (Psalm 29:2 NIV). The word “due” means “deserving of.” When John saw the multitudes in heaven praising God, they were singing, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power” (Revelation 4:11 NIV). So start your daily devotions in praise by saying: “Lord, I’m here because You deserve to be worshiped and adored.”

 

“Be sure that you never try to work God into your schedule, but always work your schedule around Him.”

‑ Joyce Meyer