Understanding the devotional life

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (1 Timothy 4:6 KJV)

As the day to transition to Deshen Daily as the name of our devotionals approaches, it is timely to review basic concepts about the devotional life. Many of us are familiar with the word “devotional” in today’s Christian world. It is commonly used to refer to a short piece of Christian writing published daily. I think this usage has rather become a major obstacle to so many Christians preventing them from fully understanding what the Christian devotional life is.

We publish daily devotional writings, but I cannot help but reiterate that the devotional life is NOT reading a piece of Christian daily devotional. The daily devotional piece is simply an avenue to access insights, encouragement, inspiration and revelations from a minister that could be of profit to you daily.

The words of Paul above to his spiritual son Timothy that he be “nourished up in the words of faith” capture the heart of what the devotional life is. It is receiving the Word of God to nourish our hearts, just as we receive physical food to nourish our physical bodies. What the Lord wants from you is that you should constantly nourish your heart with His Word. Many of you find our daily devotionals nourishing to your heart, because that is what the Word of God should do. However, the devotional life is not merely reading a daily devotional. It is being nourished in the Word. Deshen Daily is only a means to an end. It is an avenue to nourish yourself with the rich and abundant Word of God.

MEDITATE

What is the role of a devotional such as Deshen Daily in your devotional life?

APPLY THE WORD

Many believers struggle with this area of their lives. They live practically far away from God and wither like a tree in the desert. Rather than the full life and close with God’s power and presence promised in the Word, they struggle with spiritual emptiness, weakness, dryness, frustrations, discouragements, etc. There are no shortcuts. Nourish your heart with the Word and spend time with the Spirit in prayer daily.