dimanche, juillet 25, 2010
♥ Personal Devotions
I admit, i really dunno how to do personal devotions right, and i lack lots of discipline. I think the following steps is really useful and serves as a reminder to me!
1. Realize that personal devotions have to be a choice. If we have relationship based on a "have to" then it is more like a work relationship than a love relationship. Devotions have to be based on love.
2. Do devotions as soon as you wake up. Here you are still relaxed and setting the tone for the day, spending time reflecting on God’s Word must be beneficial in this.
3. Have a set place for devotion and certain ideas on how you will "do" devotion.
4. Start by listening to God, read the Bible and spend time meditating on it. Devotion is not a good time to follow a reading plan, otherwise you will get sucked into a "have to" and not spend time listening to God. However a separate Bible reading plan is useful as we need to know what God is saying and know how to place Scripture in context but this is different from a time of devotion.
5. Involve prayer in your meditation; you can pray verses or converse with God while reading the Bible; just make sure you are also listening to what God might be saying. A relationship is two way. Meditation should include quiet reflection and an open heart.
6. Set out to read a passage of Scripture rather than a verse or two, context is important; but if you do find that one verse has a lot to say to you allow yourself the flexibility to meditate on one verse. A relationship needs flexibility.
7. Do not beat yourself up about missing a daily devotion; make sure you complete it later in the day if at all possible, God is not an angry dictator but loves you enough to understand.
8. Keep a devotional journal. It can be a very useful tool for remembering how things touched you and reflecting further or at a later date. A dedicated notebook and pen or pencil are useful for this and should be kept with your devotion Bible.
9. Go through a few questions before starting, such as: Do I need to forgive anyone? Do I have to ask anyone to forgive me? Is anything in my heart blocking me from getting the most from this personal act of devotion? Do I need to confess any sin?
10. Enjoy the relationship. What a great way to start the day by conversing with God!
Time spent with God is powerful and life changing.
p.s. awesome 500th post! :)
1. Realize that personal devotions have to be a choice. If we have relationship based on a "have to" then it is more like a work relationship than a love relationship. Devotions have to be based on love.
2. Do devotions as soon as you wake up. Here you are still relaxed and setting the tone for the day, spending time reflecting on God’s Word must be beneficial in this.
3. Have a set place for devotion and certain ideas on how you will "do" devotion.
4. Start by listening to God, read the Bible and spend time meditating on it. Devotion is not a good time to follow a reading plan, otherwise you will get sucked into a "have to" and not spend time listening to God. However a separate Bible reading plan is useful as we need to know what God is saying and know how to place Scripture in context but this is different from a time of devotion.
5. Involve prayer in your meditation; you can pray verses or converse with God while reading the Bible; just make sure you are also listening to what God might be saying. A relationship is two way. Meditation should include quiet reflection and an open heart.
6. Set out to read a passage of Scripture rather than a verse or two, context is important; but if you do find that one verse has a lot to say to you allow yourself the flexibility to meditate on one verse. A relationship needs flexibility.
7. Do not beat yourself up about missing a daily devotion; make sure you complete it later in the day if at all possible, God is not an angry dictator but loves you enough to understand.
8. Keep a devotional journal. It can be a very useful tool for remembering how things touched you and reflecting further or at a later date. A dedicated notebook and pen or pencil are useful for this and should be kept with your devotion Bible.
9. Go through a few questions before starting, such as: Do I need to forgive anyone? Do I have to ask anyone to forgive me? Is anything in my heart blocking me from getting the most from this personal act of devotion? Do I need to confess any sin?
10. Enjoy the relationship. What a great way to start the day by conversing with God!
Time spent with God is powerful and life changing.
p.s. awesome 500th post! :)
11:44 PM
