Developing Quality Devotions Importance of Personal The Excitement

Developing Quality Devotions Importance of Personal The Excitement Deepening our Devotions of Quality intimate times Devotions Why is a good with God quiet time so essential to our lives? What do we expect from our devotional time with God? How can I grow in my times with God each day? Devotions in Our Lives & Ministry How do devotional times practically help me in my life and serving?

Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 Importance of Personal Devotions Experiencing Renewal through Our Personal Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 Problems with Personal Devotions ✴ Challenges we face with devotions ✴ Find what is supposed to happen in our devotions ✴ Discover some flaws in our thinking ✴ Analyze why so many Christians are not growing ✴ Tracing the place devotions has in our lives

Challenges to Devotions Stressed Backslidden Empty Exhausted Temptation Lazy

What is devotions anyway? “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is Restores the soul Makes wise Identifies right choices Brings joy Purifies - conviction Spiritually enlighten Discern truth Cause spiritual hunger Bring delight Provide warning But how?

What is the Secret? Buy this book! Go to that conference! Quick. Find a pill! Imitate that person. Experience nature. Devotions is a spiritual discipline. Regular. Special. Helpful.

Understanding New Christians What does a new Christian hear? Read the Bible Pray Sing

Frustrations with God’s Word Common pattern of defeat frustration guilt defeat God, I had my devotions. Why am I not like those Christians in Acts? ! How come I don’t hear you speaking to me like I used to?

Tracing Christian Growth 1 John 2: 12 -14 Little Children New Christians Young men Fathers Spiritually young believers Maturing Christians get stunted here because of inadequate Word of God to help them withstand temptation.

Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 B) The Importance of Devotions ✴ New Christian life ✴ The nature of Christian growth & devotions ✴ The way devotions actually works ✴ Opportunity to track our own growth

Christian Life man God “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. ” Matthew 4: 4

The nature of Christian growth “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. ” Change occurs as we live closer to the Lord. Effective daily quiet times helps keep us close to the Lord. “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. ’” (1 Peter 1: 16 -15).

Personal Devotions Relationship with Lord Knowle dge Desire Know God’s will and ways The will to live His ways “Because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater” (2 Thessalonians 1: 3).

Evaluating Devotional Times #1 Investigate the Past Identify key peaks and valleys Best Okay Lousy

Evaluating Devotional Times #2 Looking at this year

Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 The Right Approach to Devotions ✴ Factors for great devotions ✴ Getting ready for devotions ✴ Developing skills for devotions ✴ Assignment

Factors for Great Devotions Faith is theexpectation ______that God will speak to you during your time together. Hope is the delightfulreliance ____on God because of His faithful care for you. Love is the wholehearted devotedness ______ to treasure what the Lord says to you.

Getting ready • Start with a desperate prayer. • Remind yourself of any important issues you are dealing with. Ask for wisdom, patience, etc. • Find a passage. Never spend more than 1 minute looking for a passage. Better just to open. • Don’t use a passage you need to teach or study for devotional. He has other things to say to you. • Enjoy!

Sample Devotions: Psalm 130 • Start with a desperate • • • prayer. Remind yourself of any important issues you are dealing with. Ask for wisdom, patience, etc. Find a passage. Never spend more than 1 minute looking for a passage. Better just to open. Don’t use a passage you need to teach or study for devotional. He has other things to say to you. “ 1(A Song of Ascents. ) Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If Thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with Thee, That Thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, 8 And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities. ” Psalms 130: 1 -8, NASB.

Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 Seminar Home Exercises • Pick a passage from the Psalms and have devotions. What is the Lord saying? • What is He trying to say to you? • When He speaks ( a passage or point stands out), specially reflect on that thought, verse, word, etc. • Note any difficulties you had. • Personal Life Chart Develop your own personal spiritual life chart. Make it more extensive than the one you started with. Use appropriate dates starting with your salvation. Map out failures, growing times and significant events. Include times when you have grown bored, burned out, or just ‘performed’ the Christian life without real passion for Jesus.