Here’s a sneak peek from The Quiet Place, the 366-day devotional Nancy’s been hard at work on these days getting ready for you to pick up when it releases this October!
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Galatians 3:3
We can be a legalistic lot. Put the option of daily devotions on the table most mornings, and too often the factor that finally tips us in the direction of prayer and Bible reading is the one that says, “God will be disappointed in me if I don’t.” So we approach Him fearing that our day is likely to turn disastrous otherwise. We think He’ll treat us better if we just do this one little thing for Him. We treat our devotions like a good luck charm, hoping to buy ourselves smooth passage through the hours ahead.
Oh, dear friend, when will we stop thinking we make points with God by carving out a few reluctant moments to spend in His presence? When will we understand He has already shined His favor on us because of what Christ has done to please and satisfy Him, not because of anything we do to attract His notice?
Even on those days when our hearts burn to worship Him, when we eagerly sit at His feet and delight in His personal fellowship, His love for us is no greater than on those other days when we perfunctorily press through the religious paces or ignore Him altogether.
What we miss by neglecting Him is not the chance to impress Him with our sacrifice; what we miss is the experience of meeting with Him, of learning from Him, of being refreshed, steadied, and reoriented by drawing near to Him through His Word and His Spirit.
Having a “quiet time” is not a means of earning God’s favor; it is the privilege of a child of God who is grateful to be the recipient of His lavish grace and who desires to enter into an ever more intimate relationship with his heavenly Father.
In what other ways do you perform “spiritual acts” or good works, in hopes of “purchasing” God’s approval or blessing? Let your devotion and service flow out of a glad and grateful heart that has already received His grace.
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Comments
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:07 am
I think the closer we get in our relationship to God..we see the absolute need for Him and time spent with Him!
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:42 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:46 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 9:27 am
Please keep telling us over and over... Grace, grace, God's grace...
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 9:47 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:25 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:27 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:25 am
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:10 pm
on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8:26 pm
on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9:08 am
I've been dealing with this issue with devotions lately myself. During the week, i do OK but on the weekends when I don't HAVE to get up, sometimes I don't. I sleep in. Somehow, I feel that if I get up and have my daily prayer and bible reading, then I will be at peace the rest of the day. Instead of pursuing a relationship with God, I end up getting my list for today...like God, what can I do next? I can't seem to get to the relationship part without feeling like I have to do so much to earn God's favor. This is exactly what I'm doing. It's like I allow fear to rule my life and I feel like I'm forever being pushed to perform and I can never just breathe and say "Lord, I love you". I don't understand why I can't get passed this...if I don't perform correctly, the I don't feel accepted and I feel lost all over again.
on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:38 pm
It might be helpful to get specific by asking yourself what are you afraid of. That God will not love you if you don’t do your devotions? Do you believe that you are more worthy of God’s favor when you do your devotions? Remember, the Bible tells us that we are never worthy of God’s love or favor –that’s why the Bible calls it grace and mercy! Remember that we can never have more of God’s love than what He showed us when He sent His Son to die on the cross. That means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, or to make God love us less. His love depends on who He is, not on our character, actions, lovability, or omissions. The foundation for our relationship with God is what He has already done through Christ.
Your fear indicates a lack of faith—belief in the truth of God’s Word for you—and a lack of trust—not having any confidence in what God says is true about His relationship with you. The Bible tells us “perfect love casts out fear.” Don’t be confused—this truth refers not to you loving God perfectly, but to letting God love you completely.
The things that we do as Christians (like quiet time, church attendance, living with integrity) are not done to earn God’s favor, but to express our gratitude for what He has done for us through Christ, what Christ is now doing within us and what God has prepared for us in eternity. When a parent does something extra nice for a child, they are always pleased when a child responds with some expression of gratitude. When the child gets caught up in the delight of the gift, the parent is neither angry, nor feels like the child does not love. Your Heavenly Father understands you much more than any human parent does their child. Trust His Word; have faith in who God is; rest in His love, grace and mercy!
I have prayed for you this day. My prayer is that you will hear the Word of the Lord God: "Cease striving and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Love and blessings to you, Jodi.
on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:36 pm
In my mind, I know what you are saying is true but for some reason, I just can't seem to get my heart around it. I mean, there are alot of scriptural truths that I can understand with my mind but my heart seems to be untouched. I don't quite even understand about the heart/mind/soul/spirit thing. I've been reading scripture and praying and asking the Lord to help me see Him with my heart and to help me love Him with my whole heart. Please keep me in your prayers. Jodi
on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Blessings to you!
on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 3:24 pm