1. Importance of Personal Devotions The Excitement of Quality Devotions Deepening our intimate times with God Devotions in Our Lives & Ministry Why is a good quiet time so essential to our lives? What do we expect from our devotional time with God? How can I grow in my times with God each day? How do devotional times practically help me in my life and serving? Developing Quality Devotions

2. SICT 2007 Importance of Personal Devotions Experiencing Renewal through Our Personal Devotions

3. Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 Problems with Personal Devotions ✴ Challenges we face with devotions ✴ Find what is supposed to happen in our devotions ✴ Discover some flaws in our thinking ✴ Analyze why so many Christians are not growing ✴ Tracing the place devotions has in our lives

4. Challenges to Devotions Stressed Backslidden Empty Exhausted Temptation Lazy

5. “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalms 19:7-11. What is devotions anyway? Brings joy Restores the soul Purifies - conviction But how? Identifies right choices Makes wise Spiritually enlighten Discern truth Cause spiritual hunger Provide warning Bring delight

6. What is the Secret? Buy this book! Go to that conference! Quick. Find a pill! Imitate that person. Experience nature. Devotions is a spiritual discipline. Regular. Special. Helpful.

7. Understanding New Christians Read the Bible Pray Sing What does a new Christian hear?

8. Frustrations with God’s Word God, I had my devotions. Why am I not like those Christians in Acts?! guilt frustration defeat How come I don’t hear you speaking to me like I used to? Common pattern of defeat

9. 1 John 2:12-14 Tracing Christian Growth Little ChildrenYoung men Fathers New Christians Spiritually young believers Maturing Christians Christians get stunted here because of inadequate Word of God to help them withstand temptation.

10. Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 B) The Importance of Devotions ✴ New Christian life ✴ The nature of Christian growth & devotions ✴ The way devotions actually works ✴ Opportunity to track our own growth

11. Christian Life man GodGod man “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

12. Change occurs as we live closer to the Lord. “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’” (1 Peter 1:16-15). Effective daily quiet times helps keep us close to the Lord. The nature of Christian growth

13. Knowle dge The will to live His ways Personal Devotions Know God’s will and ways Desire Relationship with Lord “Because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

14. Evaluating Devotional Times #1 Investigate the Past Identify key peaks and valleys Best Okay Lousy

15. Evaluating Devotional Times #2 Looking at this year

16. Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 The Right Approach to Devotions ✴ Factors for great devotions ✴ Getting ready for devotions ✴ Developing skills for devotions ✴ Assignment

17. Love is the wholehearted ____________ to treasure what the Lord says to you. Hope is the delightful ________on God because of His faithful care for you. Faith is the ____________that God will speak to you during your time together. Factors for Great Devotions expectation reliance devotedness

18. Getting ready Start with a desperate prayer. Remind yourself of any important issues you are dealing with. Ask for wisdom, patience, etc. Find a passage. Never spend more than 1 minute looking for a passage. Better just to open. Don’t use a passage you need to teach or study for devotional. He has other things to say to you. Enjoy!

19. Sample Devotions: Psalm 130 Start with a desperate prayer. Remind yourself of any important issues you are dealing with. Ask for wisdom, patience, etc. Find a passage. Never spend more than 1 minute looking for a passage. Better just to open. Don’t use a passage you need to teach or study for devotional. He has other things to say to you. Enjoy! “ 1 (A Song of Ascents.) Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If Thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with Thee, That Thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, 8 And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.” Psalms 130:1-8, NASB.

20. Developing Quality Devotions SICT 2007 Seminar Home Exercises Pick a passage from the Psalms and have devotions. What is the Lord saying? What is He trying to say to you? When He speaks ( a passage or point stands out), specially reflect on that thought, verse, word, etc. Note any difficulties you had. Personal Life Chart Develop your own personal spiritual life chart. Make it more extensive than the one you started with. Use appropriate dates starting with your salvation. Map out failures, growing times and significant events. Include times when you have grown bored, burned out, or just ‘performed’ the Christian life without real passion for Jesus.