My personal devotions have always been very important in my life since my senior year in High School! I would have to say they have been one of the very top reasons I have enjoyed a life of Spiritual victory and growth as well as effectiveness in Christian service. I attribute that to a high school teacher, Dean Shenaman, who happened to be a Christian. He impressed me because he saw the Christian life as an adventure, not merely a duty or responsibility and challenged me to spend personal time with the Lord daily.
This morning I was asked to share with the sophomore and junior classes at SAGU about the importance in my life of what I call “coffee with the Lord” (my personal devotions). Here’s a list of the benefits of “coffee with the Lord” – my regular personal devotions – that I shared with them…
A List of 12 Personal Benefits of Regular Devotions
- Solutions to persistent concerns and issues in my life have often been revealed to me during my time of daily devotions.
- Some of the most creative ideas and effective ministry strategies have surfaced during my time of daily devotions.
- My daily devotions provide a regular opportunity for me to hear God’s voice and communicate with Him about my concerns.
- A consistent devotional life provides a regular opportunity and context for God to speak to me about what He considers to be the important issues in my life.
- My ability to resist temptation and overcome “besetting sin” is directly linked to the regularity and quality of my devotional life.
- My daily devotions provide a regular opportunity for me to gain perspective on the issues of my life and give me an opportunity to receiving Spiritual refreshment.
- The “satisfaction quotient” of my personal relationship with God is directly related to the quality of my devotional life.
- I’ve found that those I lead tend to emulate my devotional life (that’s either very good or very frightening).
- I’ve discovered that effective ministry flows from a “full reservoir” – Keep your reservoir full!!
- Worship becomes richer and God more real to me as a result of my regular times in His presence.
- I’ve discovered that when I have devotions regularly my relationship with the Lord is an exciting adventure, not simply a duty or an obligation.
- Not only that, when I have daily devotions… I grow! Grow!! GROW!!!
