Importance of

Personal

Devotions

Importance of

Personal

DevotionsThe Excitement

of Quality

Devotions

The Excitement

of Quality

Devotions

Deepening our

intimate times

with God

Deepening our

intimate times

with God

Devotions in

Our Lives &

Ministry

Devotions in

Our Lives &

Ministry

Why is a good quiet time so

essential to our lives?

Why is a good quiet time so

essential to our lives?

What do we expect from our devotional time

with God?

What do we expect from our devotional time

with God?

How can I grow in my times with God each day?

How can I grow in my times with God each day?

How do devotional times practically

help me in my life and serving?

How do devotional times practically

help me in my life and serving?

Developing Quality DevotionsDeveloping Quality Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions

SICT 2007SICT 2007

Importance of

Personal Devotions

Importance of

Personal Devotions

Experiencing Renewal through Our Personal Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions

SICT 2007SICT 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

Don’t feel likehavingdevotions

Challenges to Devotions

N o t

in te r e s te d .

G o d isn ’ tsp e ak in g .

S o ti red!

I’mtryinghard.

R e a l l y

d is t r a c te d

Stressed

Backslidden

Empty

Exhausted

Temptation

Lazy

““The law of the LORD is The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the sure, making wise the

simple. The precepts of the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of heart; The commandment of

the LORD is pure, the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, fear of the LORD is clean,

enduring forever; The enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are judgments of the LORD are

true; they are righteous true; they are righteous altogether. They are more altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, desirable than gold, yes,

than much fine gold; Sweeter than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the also than honey and the

drippings of the honeycomb. drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy Moreover, by them Thy

servant is warned; In keeping servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.” them there is great reward.”

Psalms 19:7-11.Psalms 19:7-11.

What is devotions anyway?

Brings joy

Restores the soul

Purifies - conviction

But how?

Identifies right choices

Makes wise

Spiritually enlighten

Discern truthCause spiritual

hunger

Provide warningBring delight

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

Read the Bible

Pray

Sing

What does a new Christian hear?

Frustrations with God’s Word

God, I had my devotions. Why am I not like those Christians in Acts?!

guiltguiltfrustrationfrustration defeatdefeat

How come I don’t hear you speaking to me like I used to?

Common pattern of defeat

1 John 2:12-14

Tracing Christian Growth

Little Children Young men Fathers

New Christians

Spiritually young

believers

Maturing Christians

Christians get stunted here because of inadequate Word of God to help them withstand

temptation.

Developing Quality Devotions

Developing Quality Devotions

SICT 2007SICT 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

manman GodGodGodGodmanman

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

Change occurs as we live closer to the

Lord.

“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

“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).

Effective daily quiet times helps

keep us close to the

Lord.

The nature of Christian growth

Knowledge

The will to live His ways

Personal DevotionsPersonal

Devotions

Know God’s will and ways

Desire

Relationship

with Lord

“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

Developing Quality Devotions

SICT 2007SICT 2007

The Right Approach to Devotions

Factors for great devotions

Getting ready for devotions

Developing skills for devotions

Assignment

Love is the wholehearted ____________ to treasure what the Lord says to you.

Hope is the delightful ________on God because of His faithful care for you.

Faith is the ____________that God will speak to you during your time together.

Factors for Great Devotions

expectation

reliance

devotedness

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.

• Enjoy!

“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

Developing Quality Devotions

SICT 2007SICT 2007Seminar 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.