Category Archives: Devos

Mar 06 2017
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Devos

How “Coffee with the Lord” came to be… and its personal benefits in my life

Coffee with the Lord
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

  1. Solutions to persistent concerns and issues in my life have often been revealed to me during my time of daily devotions.
  2. Some of the most creative ideas and effective ministry strategies have surfaced during my time of daily devotions.
  3. My daily devotions provide a regular opportunity for me to hear God’s voice and communicate with Him about my concerns.
  4. 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.
  5. My ability to resist temptation and overcome “besetting sin” is directly linked to the regularity and quality of my devotional life.
  6. 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.
  7. The “satisfaction quotient” of my personal relationship with God is directly related to the quality of my devotional life.
  8. I’ve found that those I lead tend to emulate my devotional life (that’s either very good or very frightening).
  9. I’ve discovered that effective ministry flows from a “full reservoir” – Keep your reservoir full!!
  10. Worship becomes richer and God more real to me as a result of my regular times in His presence.
  11. 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.
  12. Not only that, when I have daily devotions… I grow! Grow!! GROW!!!

 

Mar 06 2017
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Devos

I pray, not based upon my merit or righteousness, but His forgiveness and grace!

prayer-for-forgivness
I just finished reading Psalm 17 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord.” Oh how I wish I were able to appeal to God to answer my prayers based upon my own righteous and sinlessness, as David seems to do in this Psalm! I can’t! I know how many times I’ve fallen – I’m deeply aware of the times I’ve failed!
 
In Psalm 17 David said, “Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! … You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing… My steps have held fast to your paths my feet have not slipped.” (vss. 1, 3, 4-5)
 
Could you make that claim and use it as the basis for your appeal for God to answer your prayer? I can’t! In fact, I think (no, more than that – I know) that apart from the forgiveness and grace of God, neither could David! (If you doubt that you need to read Psalm 51 and II Samuel 11-12). It was David who said, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened: He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!” (Psalm 66:18-20)
 
So my appeal to the Lord to answer my prayer must be based upon God’s forgiveness and grace, not my personal merit! I must come to the Heavenly Father in the Name and merits of Jesus, the Righteous One, my Savior! That being said, as a child of God, I can make David’s words in Psalm 17 my own (and I do!)…
 
“Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer… From Your presence let my vindication come! Let Your eyes behold the right! … I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show Your steadfast love! … Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings… As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.” (From Psalm 17 ESV)
Mar 05 2017
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Devos

Who is important in your life?

Who is important in your life? My wife is incredibly important to me – I love her dearly! My children (and grandchildren) are important to me – how I love each one of them! My brothers are dear to me! So were my parents – I honor them highly! And then there are mentors and friends… I could go on!

But this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of Who is most important to me – The Lord! It was the words of Psalm 16 that brought it to mind and expressed my feelings perfectly…

“Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge! I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You!’ … The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply… The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure… You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (From Psalm 16 ESV)

If you’re like me there are some very dear and important people in my life. I appreciate and love every one of them! But I’ve got to tell you, the Lord is number 1 and I want to keep it that way!

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