Devotional

Devotional Action Steps

• Find an inner room in your home

• Set up a place to go in that inner room

• Get a journal to write your prayers

• Put up something to post prayers and scriptures on (Cork, bulletin board, tape))

• Wake up 30-60 minutes earlier to go to that inner room (Sacrifice Sleep...die to yourself, or go to bed earlier)

Day 1: Being Transformed

Romans 12:1-2 NASB

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

         There is so much that has been said about this scripture. Yet, it is important to start with this specific scripture. At some level, if you are here reading this devotional, you have decided to pursue Jesus Christ. There are a couple of key points to be made from this scripture. We are to present our bodies as a living and Holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. Without this, we cannot be fully transformed by the renewing of our minds proving what God’s will is for us.

         So, what does this look like on a practical level? Intentionally get up earlier than you otherwise would, go to your inner room, and spend intentional time pursuing the Lord Jesus with your whole heart, instead of setting aside some time for Jesus at some random part of your day. In doing this, you are sacrificing something, sleep… and putting an emphasis on the divine.

         Yes, many will argue that at times, I am suggesting legalistic actions, but what is the sacrifice if we simply try to wiggle in a little Jesus to our lives. What are you really sacrificing? So, where are you truly presenting yourself up to the Lord in a sacrificial way? I encourage you to begin carving out a process that helps you seek the Lord first as close to everyday as possible. When you do this, you will encounter the Lord in unique ways you never thought possible. More evidence of the timing of our pursuit of Jesus will come in the days ahead!

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. Grant me the ability to be transformed through dedicated and intentional actions that set you at the forefront of my life. Help me present my life to you in such a way that I learn what your good and perfect will is for my life. Help me begin the process of learning how to become truly transformed by your words. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.

Day 2: Inner Room

Matthew 6:6 NASB

“But As for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

         This scripture has a promise in it. When we choose to go into our inner room and close the door behind us, our Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward us. Um… how do I sign up for a life in which God will reward me? It’s easy, go to an inner room and close the door… then what?

         This is where the rubber meets the road, what’s next? Well, this is how we are to pray. You must present your requests unto the Lord. He knows what you need, but He longs to hear it directly from you. He wants you to pursue Him in the secret place. This does not mean we get to tell God a list of everything we want and He will give it to us. It also does not mean life is prosperous… It means we would know God’s heart and begin to see things very differently.

         Think about the original creation for a moment, where God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. It was a private individual experience for everyone involved. Think about how Jesus retreated to pray unto the Father in heaven? It was a regular occurrence! He came down from time spent in prayer to start His day. He modeled this for us to follow and even told us explicitly what to do. Jesus knew the heart of God, partly because He was God, but he was disconnected from the Father while here on Earth. He had stepped out of heaven; therefore, He had to spend time with the Father through prayer.

         So here are some questions to consider today: Are you sacrificing a little sleep to spend time with the Lord? Are you going to an inner room and closing the door behind you? Are you reading scripture and presenting your request to the Lord?

         If you are just starting this journey- find a spot, behind closed doors, and start reading and praying through God’s word. Very quickly, you will begin to see the reward in how real God becomes as you are given the heart and eyes to see His work all around you.

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your Word. Lord, you have provided specific instructions for how we are to come to you. Lord, I desire to seek you. I desire to have rewards from you. I desire your blessings. Please forgive me for not taking you at your word and going into my inner room to seek your will for my life. Help me check my motives and seek you where you tell me to go. Help me develop a passion to sacrifice for you, strength to close the door behind me, a heart to hear you, and eyes to see the beauty that you have created throughout everything. Most of all, thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus gave so that I may be able to approach your throne. In Jesus name. Amen 

Day 3: A Promise for Seeking the Lord

Hebrews 11:6 NASB

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be the One who rewards those who seek Him.”

         In faith we approach and pursue the Lord. Without faith, we pursue ourselves. This seems simple enough, yet we all struggle with the reality of sacrificing our time for the Lord. It is hard to perceive the intangible notion that drives our actions. There is an indirect connection between seeing and touching something to understand how real it is. When we come to the Father, there is so much that we have to feel and interpret that we doubt our ability to comprehend; therefore, we would deny ourselves the fullness of that relationship because of our doubt.

         In our worldly relationships we have physical interactions with the living. So much of our relationships are built upon the physical nature of knowing they are there. When we come to God, it is ethereal in that who are we that we can encounter perfection? This is where today’s scripture is important to dwell on. It says that “He proves to be the One who rewards…” When we begin the process of truly seeking Him on a routine and regular basis, He will prove Himself to us, thus making the intangible tangible. While He may remain beyond our on physical limitations, we encounter the living and breathing Word of God in that Jesus Himself becomes a part of the natural rhythm of our lives.

         Our faith then drives our action, without the essential belief that God- The Creator of everything- desires a relationship with you, it remains impossible to pursue Him. Pursuit requires action. We must prove our desires to abide in our faith, and when we can do that, God rewards us by being present with us. Tomorrow we will explore this thought more.

Dear Father,

         Thank you for your physical presence on this Earth. You spoke everything into existence. Therefore, you are a part of everything both visible and invisible. I admit my own misunderstandings in that I have not sought you where you tell me to go find you. Please reveal those areas of doubt in my life and grant me the ability to address those in the security of who you are. Let me find you. Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me and grant me the ability to find you quickly. In Jesus Name, Amen.