7 Sure Fire Ways to Kill Almost All Benefits of Devotions

I say, “almost all benefits,” because if God can speak through a donkey, He doesn’t need your or my devotions to communicate with us…and He did it millennia before Disney came up with the idea of talking animals. But He is the God who, through the Apostle James, penned the instructions for us that IF we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). So, it does seem that we have a responsibility to draw near to Him, and therefore HOW we draw near is going to make a huge difference in living the Christian life.

Now, I am breaking one of my own rules in writing this blog, and that rule was to pay no attention to all the tweets and posts on “5 ways to this” and “7 principles to that.”

I got so tired of them that I gave up opening or reading them.

But I am going to make an exception. My first of the New Year.

I think, there are many ways that we are shooting ourselves in the foot re: one of the most important elements of our fellowship with God. I use the word, fellowship, rather than relationship, because I am afraid our use of the concept of having a “relationship” with God has fallen on hard times. It is used so freely that it has come to mean virtually nothing. Plus, I have a relationship with the service representative at the auto dealership where I bought my car, but it is not a relationship that will change my life.

It is the people in my life with whom I share frequent and meaningful fellowship that will change my life.

And that is the whole purpose of regular devotional time.

So, here are seven ways to prevent your devotional time from being meaningful fellowship with God:

1. Have no understanding of why you are doing quiet time, other than fulfilling an obligation of all “good Christians.”

Your salvation is not a get-out-of-hell-free pass that once-for-all forgives sin past, present and future, like a good luck charm. Your justification is the front door to a life lived in fellowship with God, through Christ, by the Spirit, that the Bible calls “being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18/ 2 Corinthians 2:15). Regular and consistent time in fellowship with God is an indispensable component of transforming love for and communion with God.

2. Have no place and no set time for devotions.

This should not be a rigid element of your fellowship with God but, if you have no set time or designated place, it will be that much harder to be consistent. In reality, you can meet with God any place and at any time, but having a regular time and place gives me something to return to when my life has dragged me away from consistency with God.

3. Do not acknowledge and/or invite the Holy Spirit into your devotional time.

This is huge. We have no fellowship with God outside of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Reading the Bible and praying is an exercise in futility when it is done strictly in human effort or discipline. My friend, Dr. Steven Land, recommends that we develop a conscious, godly habit of inviting the Holy Spirit into every element of our day and especially when we are approaching the Word that He authored, asking Him to help us hear the voice of the Father to our hearts and lives.

4. Follow a read-through-the-Bible in a year plan or any other plan designed to cover as much material as possible in one sitting.

I know I will make some people angry with this one, but the goal in reading the Bible is NOT to see how much material you can get through in a day and to stay on schedule…much less cramming to get back on schedule. The goal in reading the Bible is to hear the voice of God and have our hearts stirred and our affections changed. Sometimes that happens in one verse and you need to linger there for God’s voice to have effect. A reading plan of some sort is not a bad idea but must be held extremely lightly.

5. Leave your phone on so you can access calls, texts and any other interruptions to your time in God’s council chamber.

The current research is very alarming on how long it takes to regain concentration when once it is broken by a text or alert re: an e mail or social media post. My personal conviction, and one I am still working on, is to turn my phone on “do not disturb” mode (the little moon thingy). We need to give God our best and undivided attention.

6. Take no time, during your Bible reading or prayer time, to just worship, and sit and listen for God’s voice.

The goal is not getting through your Bible reading and prayer. The goal is entering and staying in God’s presence so that He can have maximum access to our hearts. So, worship is foundational to the purpose of devotions. Some people start their devotional time with worship and the faith practice of opening their hearts to the presence of God.

7. Embrace the notion that grace covers all elements of our Christian lives and that there is, therefore, no responsibility on our part to do anything on behalf of our spiritual growth or development.

I have no problem with the current emphasis in songs and sermons on the grace of God. It is an important counter to a works salvation. But to the extent that grace is presented in a way that absolves me of every responsibility to “work out my salvation,” to keep close account for my sin (1 John 1:9) or to do the work necessary to “draw near to God”…the extreme grace message is more of a hindrance than a help.

So, there they are. I’ve done what I said I’d never do…written “7 ways” to something. I hope it has been helpful. A believer’s consistent time with God is the key to victorious living. There is no short-cut. The Lord bless you as you pursue fellowship with Him.