A relationship with Christ begins with what the Bible calls being “born again.” This term refers to the moment you turn from sin and put your faith and trust in Christ. But in our relationship with Christ, being “born again” is only the beginning. Like a baby who has just been born must grow, so too we ought to grow in our relationship with Christ.
Much can be said regarding the topic of growing in Christ, but today I want to focus on something simple yet often forgotten about by many Christians — a disciplined daily devotional life.
Just as eating and exercise help a child to grow, or the sun and water cause plants to grow, so too a devotional life is necessary for a Christian to grow.
Personal daily devotions are an absolute key for growing in our relationship with Christ!
Billy Graham once said, “Nothing can take the place of a daily devotional life with Christ. Your quiet time, your prayer time, the time you spend in the Word, is absolutely essential for a happy Christian life. You cannot possibly be a happy, dynamic, and powerful Christian apart from a daily walk with Christ.”
So what exactly does a daily devotional life entail? Based on what we find in scripture I would like to present three things that should be done both in the morning and evening.
1. Spend time reading the Bible.
We see an example of this in Psalms 1:1-2 when we read, “Blessed is the man…whose delight is in the law of the Lord [the Bible] and who meditates on the law [the Bible] day and night.” Further on in this chapter we also read that the person who does this (meditate on the law day and night) will prosper.
Joshua 1:8 reads, “Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
In the New Testament, Jesus knew the scriptures so well that He quoted them by memory to Satan when tempted in the wilderness.
Then in the book of Acts, the disciples quoted scripture by memory in their sermons.
The Bible is God’s handbook for how we are to live. It is a message directly from Him to us, and this book is so important that brave translators like William Tyndale were willing to be burned at the stake so that you and I could read it.
May we never take this gift for granted.
2. Spend time in daily prayer.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” In other words, Paul and Silas prayed for others twice a day. He reaffirms this again in Timothy 1:3.
Daniel prayed three times a day as seen in Daniel 6:10.
In the gospel of Luke, Anna the prophetess prayed and worshipped twice daily.
Jesus knew the importance of prayer which is why we read in Mark 1:35 that Jesus rose early to pray and then in other scriptures that He also prayed all night at times.
Jesus admonishes the believer to go into “the prayer closet” and shut the door. Indeed, it is there that the believer finds power.
Prayer is simply a time to share your heart with God — a time to share your burdens, thoughts, desires, thanksgiving, and praises with Him.
3. Spend time worshiping in song.
Both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 speak of singing “Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs.” We read that singing about Christ and to Christ should be a regular part of our lives.
When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, they worshiped the Lord in song. When David watched his sheep as a young boy all alone, he sang to the Lord. When the children of Israel gathered on certain special occasions, they sang together to the Lord.
We do not have to look far to see the importance of singing in the Bible, the book of Psalms is full of worship.
The Bible tells us Heaven is continually filled with worship. Just think of it for a moment. The same Jesus that created the world, that died on the cross and now sits on the very throne of Heaven, He desires to hear your worship. The same Jesus to whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess wants to hear you sing!
What an honor that is! May it be a part of our daily lives.
—Josiah Alway
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