Daily Devotions
Now that the new spiritual baby has breath, it also needs to eat. Lesson 3 teaches us how to read the Bible and worship God by ourselves daily. To know a person, you need to have regular contact with him or her. Along those same lines, if you want to have a close relationship with God, you need to “set a time” just for God every day. We want to set a time for a daily devotional.
Please download the PDF and use the Bible to look up the answers to all the questions below.
I. The content of our devotional time
A. Talk with God through prayer
B. Let God speak to me through reading the Bible
II. The purpose of our devotional time
A. To worship God – God welcomes me
B. To fellowship with God – we share our concerns
C. To be led by God – I welcome God in my life
III. The attitude of our devotional time
What attitude do these psalmists have toward God?
- Psalms 42:1-2
- Psalms 119:147-148
IV. Examples from the Bible
How did these people from the Bible seek and know God?
Genesis 19:27
- Person: Abraham
- Time: Morning
- Place: -
- Activity: Met God
Psalm 5: 3
- Person:
- Time:
- Place:
- Activity:
Daniel 6:10
- Person:
- Time:
- Place:
- Activity:
Mark 1:35
- Person:
- Time:
- Place:
- Activity:
From the examples above, what applications to your life can you make in terms of spending time with God?
V. Suggestions and Tools for Your Spiritual Life
A. Bible: Write down the Scripture reference, read it, and write what you learned from the reading. Meditate on the verse. Remember that you can’t change what the Bible says, but you can change how it impacts your life. There are many good devotional books, but none can replace the Bible. The Bible is the answer to humanity’s four big questions. Where do I come from? Why do I exist? How should I live? Where will I go in the future?
B. Pen and Notebook: During your devotional time, write down your thoughts and what you sense God saying to you. “And you shall remember all the ways which the Lord your God has led you…” (Deut. 8:2). You can also write down the names and needs of those you are praying for. Also note answers to these prayers to encourage yourself.
C. Place: Choose a place where you can meet with God without being disturbed. God wants you to concentrate when facing Him.
D. Time: Find the most appropriate time where you can consistently meet with God.
E. Plan: Choose a Bible book to read at your own rate, and then meditate, record, pray, and obey.
VI. Getting Ready to Meet with God – Your Devotional Plan
A. Pray: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalms 119:18)
B. Prepare: Collect the things you need and find a quite place. Prepare your heart and wait on God. Confess your sins.
C. Seek God: Read a Scripture portion. Meditate on how it relates to you. Talk with God about what you read. Pray over each item listed above.
D. Follow Through: Obey what God reveals to you. Share with others what you have learned.
E. Additional reading: Take time in other times in the day (now or before bed) to read larger amounts of Scripture. Begin reading two chapters from the Old Testament and one chapter from the New Testament each day. By doing this, you can read the whole Bible in about a year.
VII. Be faithful to keep your devotional life
Persevere in keeping your daily devotions; make the time a part of your daily life.
A. It is your decision to meet with God daily. If you keep a daily devotional time with God, you will grow in your spiritual life.
B. While Jesus was on earth, He said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). In everything you might encounter in this world, nothing is more important than being with God.
C. One of God’s goals is for you to have fellowship with Him and to know Him. Your goal should be to praise and worship God. Although devotions will bring you many good feelings, new insights, and many blessings, the main purpose of devotions is to know and worship God.
Your Commitment
Are you willing to commit to a daily devotion? Yes/No
Write the following points in a notebook.
- Beginning date
- Time or Times of Day
- Place
What is daily devotional plan? What books will you read? How will you pray?
