Whether you are single or married, young or old, a new Christian or a mature believer, devotionals are a spiritual discipline that can be practiced and developed to connect with and get closer to God. James 4:8 tells us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. So just like a father who wants his kids to drop whatever they are doing and just spend a few minutes with him, God also wants to spend time with us.
There are many things that keep men from getting closer to God through devotionals including laziness, life activities, and the most common…FEAR. This exercise is designed as a simple tool to get you going and defeat that fear as you move toward taking spiritual authority of your home.
1. Plan ahead and gather a couple of your friends and/or your family.
If you have kids, modify this exercise to their level and style of learning.. If this is new for you, it is OK to share if you feel scared or nervous. They will admire your honesty and vulnerability.
2. Make this an important and special time.
Eliminate distractions such as TV, loud sounds, etc. It is the creator of the universe who we are connecting with after all!
3. Open with a word of prayer
Ask God to come and join you where you’re at and to lead any discussions and teaching moments. Be simple and respectful when praying and talking to God. You don’t have to use “Christianese” when praying. He just want you to talk to him! If you are new to this, you can just pray the following prayer: “Lord (Father, God or however you want to address Him), I ask for your presence in this room. I ask you to lead our conversations today and welcome this time we want to spend with you.”
4. Pick a passage or story that you want to discuss or teach from.
There are many resources and devotional guides out there that you can use and that will walk you through a weekly, monthly or yearly study.
For this exercise, let’s use one of my favorite sections of the book Matthew 25-24. I love these verses because they remind me that God is in control. Sometimes as humans (especially provider-men), we stress and worry about things that to us may seem big, but for God are easy if we are faithful:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 25-34 NIV
5. Ask each person what these words mean to him/her
Ask: What causes you to worry? Review the passage earlier so you can share your thoughts. You can use some of the following suggestions if needed:
- We need much less than we think we do.
- God will provide what we need.
- We need to focus on doing God’s work today without worrying about tomorrow. If we are following his guidance and letting him work through us, He will protect us and provide.
You can use this time for confession if your worry and stress have affected your relationships with others.
6. Close with prayer.
Close by encouraging and allowing each person to pray if they wish, and by you thanking God for what he gives us and for being there with you.
What should we expect to get out of a devotional? The answer is NOTHING! We should be selflessly practicing this just to be obedient. The awesome thing is that, God has made promises, and I can assure you that He will reward your obedience and in time, you will start supernaturally noticing a closer connection with Him. So I encourage you to make this a continuous practice at your home, work or wherever you meet with others.
If you feel comfortable leading a devotional, you can take it one step further and partake in the Lord’s supper. And if, unlike me, you have musical talent, you may also incorporate worship and song to your devotional.
I pray that God fills you with courage to complete this exercise. That He rewards your obedience and that the connection you make with God in the process is greater than what you have ever experienced in the past.