DCA 103: Christian Devotion

Objectives

By the end of this course, students will understand:

The essence of Christian devotion.
The importance of Christian devotion.
How to foster a personal relationship with God.
How to cultivate daily prayer and Bible study habits.

Introduction

The human spirit thrives in God’s presence. After the fall in Eden, humanity’s spirit was disconnected from God, leading to spiritual death. For the born-again, the spirit is recreated and sustained through fellowship with God and His Word. Daily devotion fosters communion with God, strengthening and edifying us through His presence.

Section 1 – Lesson 1

Scripture References: Psalms 63:1-2; Psalms 42:1-2; Mark 1:35

Psalms 63:1-2

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee
in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Psalms 42:1-2

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?

Mark 1:35

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

1. What is Christian Devotion?

Personal fellowship with God.
Involves praise, worship, Bible study, meditation, and prayer.

2. Why Should I Have Daily Devotion?

Scripture References: Proverbs 4:20-23; Joshua 1:8

Proverbs 4:20-23

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Joshua 1:8

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Commanded by God.
Draws God’s presence and virtue into our spirit.
Maintains closeness to God’s heart.
Promotes spiritual growth and victory.
Facilitates hearing from God and receiving direction.
Supports an organized, effective life.

3. Why Are People Inconsistent in Devotion?

Busy work schedules.
Failure to rise early.
Pressing issues.
Procrastination.
Guilt or unconfessed sin.
Substituting church activities for personal devotion.
Perceived lack of time.

4. Benefits of Daily Devotion

Scripture References: Isaiah 40:28-31; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Psalms 91:1-11

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2 Chronicles 26:5

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

Psalms 91:1-11

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Nourishes and strengthens spiritually.
Provides fresh direction and purpose.
Builds faith and knowledge of God’s Word.
Cultivates the fruit of the Spirit and character.
Enhances personal and ministerial productivity.
Grants access to God’s wisdom for life’s challenges.
Renews anointing, preventing burnout.
Sharpens sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

5. What Happens Without Daily Devotion?

Scripture Reference: Joshua 9:14-20

Joshua 9:14-20

14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them.
17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.
19 But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.”

Starves the spirit of essential nourishment.
Results in:
- Stunted spiritual growth.
- Weak prayer life.
- Weak faith.
- Loss of direction and focus.
- Inability to overcome sin and temptation.
- Carnality.
- Dull spirit and loss of sensitivity to God.
- Lack of divine wisdom for challenges.

6. How to Develop Consistent Christian Devotion?

Start early in the morning.
Find a quiet, conducive place.
Commit to a plan and adhere to it.

7. Procedures in Christian Devotion

No strict rules, but include:
- Worship/praise.
- Prayer.
- Bible study.
- Meditation.

Tips:

Go to bed early to rise early.
Begin with praise/worship/thanksgiving.
Pray in tongues to charge your spirit.
Plan Bible study.
Meditate and note what the Holy Spirit reveals.
Use insights to organize your day.

8. How Long Should Devotion Last?

Varies by individual and spiritual maturity.
Longer is better; Bible suggests at least one hour (Matt. 26:40).
Time for prayer, worship, and study can vary.

Matthew 26:40

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?”

Discussion Questions

What is the difference between walking with and working for God?
Should a Christian recite the Lord’s Prayer?
How should I pray? (See Matthew 6:9-13)
Compare the Lord’s Prayer to the prayer in Acts 4:24-30.

Matthew 6:9-13

9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Acts 4:24-30

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”