(DEVOTION TO GOD, part 2) A day is a gift from God. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). A day exists so that people who live on that day would acknowledge God, rejoice in God, and be glad in God. A day exists to give you and I an opportunity to devote ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Morning, noon, and night are practical tools to help us structure life in full devotion to Jesus (Psalm 55:17).
Morning
Is this how you have thought about your days? Has this been the express and heartfelt purpose of each day? Surely not. But each morning, thanks be to God, brings a new opportunity to repent and live for Him. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; [23] they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
This morning brought new mercy to your bedside. Awaken to the Lord! Awaken to His steadfast love; rise to His faithfulness. His mercy, the mercy of grace and help to wounded sinners, is fountain that never runs dry. Morning exists that you might stoop low and refresh yourself at these waters.
Being Awake
“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. [34] It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. [35] Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—[36] lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. [37] And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake” (Mark 13:33-37 ESV).
Within seconds of opening your eyes in the morning, devote yourself to the Lord Christ. He is there setting His heart upon you; to “visit [you] every morning” (Job 7:17-18). Awake in the morning and cry out to Him; set your hope upon Him like shelter from the storm (Psalm 119:147). Set the day’s course through morning prayer. Aim to wait patiently for the Lord till He provides. Waiting is obedience; it pleases God. Pray for wisdom in this; that you would not rush ahead of the Spirit, but that you would not lag behind the Spirit either. Pray for Spiritual attentiveness.
Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord;
Leave me not to be alone.
Purify me and keep me.
Lift me, help me, and use me.
Take this day to be Your own.
Lord Christ, my rock, my rest
Consecrate my life to you.
Guard my eyes, my ears, my lips.
Guide my feet, my hands, my mind.
Cleanse my sinful heart anew.
As the body awakens to the light of day, the soul should awaken to the Light of God in Christ. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Call upon Him in the morning that He might come and stir your heart and mind unto Him. He will arouse your affections to His Word with all the riches of promise and holy guidance it contains (Isaiah 50:4). “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch” (Psalm 5:3).
Jesus knew what mornings are for. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). If able, let us literally go to a lonely place and pray. If not, let us do so spiritually at bedside. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
Simple Practical Helps
There is no mechanical formula (i.e., no set form of outward religion) for proper devotion to God. Basic principles and specific, concrete actions, though, are helpful. Here are some basic principles of proper devotion. It is a mark of spiritual maturity to schedule or set aside specific times to seek the Lord in prayer and the Word. Having a plan is good. Having a goal is good. Having the right heart, however, is essential.
(1.) Devotion is Relational – It is about enjoying and growing in a relationship with God. Listen; talk. Seek; rest. Worship; confess. Give thanks; ask for help. Be loved; love. Cry; rejoice.
(2.) Devotion is Spiritual – It can only happen through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
(3.) Devotion is Gracious – It is a gift given and sustained as a gift from God received by faith.
(4.) Devotion is Heavenly – It is based on God’s truth as revealed from heaven, focused on heavenly blessings and realities, and personally brought to our minds and hearts from Christ, our Great High Priest and King of heaven.
God is holy and we are sinners. In our devotion, then, we must seek fellowship with God through faith in Christ. Christ is our great High Priest in heaven who receives and purifies our offerings, works, and prayers. He makes them acceptable and presents them before the Father. We do not “work for” His presence or attempt to earn it in any way. Christ is sufficient to mediate this relationship; we devote ourselves to God through Him.
All our crying out to God, all our personal enjoyment of His goodness is graciously given through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Devotion is active not passive. It involves specific, concrete actions.
(1.) Seek the Lord in prayer – Pray in your heart, aloud, or on paper.
(2.) Seek the Lord in His Word – Read and meditate on Scripture.
The morning is the time to have your eyes opened to the love of God in Jesus Christ. If you devote yourself to His Word and devote yourself to prayer, you will find that He is faithful (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-8). He will meet you there according to His purpose. The Lord of majestic exaltation will find you at your bedside. Seek Him in the secret place.
Go, therefore, to the place He has shown you, and He will meet you there. By Word and Spirit He will sit with you. Come humbly that you might be lifted by the mighty and gentle hand of Christ.
