MORNING DEVOTIONAL AND REFLECTIONS WITH ISAIAH-PHILLIPS AKINTOLA. MORNING SESSION 6.

Описание: It’s all too common to become overwhelmed by the chaos of daily life and to lose sight of our fundamental purpose; nurturing a deep and meaningful devotional life. While dedicating our lives to Christ is essential, understanding how to embody that commitment in a way that fosters daily spiritual growth in the presence of the Father is an entirely different challenge.

Devotion is the key to maintaining and developing our spiritual life. When we don't have a solid, continual devotional lifestyle, we cannot grow in the way and manner that God intended for us. Hence, devotion is a point and a place where we get to understand and experience the transforming power of our relationship with the Lord.

It is a privilege to be daily invited to share in the glorious experience around and within the throne of God. To me, devotion is far more than a time of prayer or worship, though these are vitally important. Devotion is an opportunity to go deeper into the things of God, to measure my place and position in terms of spiritual development.

The place of devotion is where I see myself in the light of Christ. It is the point where all that I am is weighed and measured on the scale of authenticity. Devotion is where I am refined, transformed, and empowered in the light of the Spirit. It is the place where everything required to carry out God's intentions is given, renewed, and refined. It is also where I am launched out for the day.

Beyond a Time of Prayer

Devotion must be seen as more than just a time of prayer. What happens in the place of prayer? What takes place while you are communing with God, talking to Him? What happens in your life? To me, that is the essence of devotion.

This is why we cannot afford to treat devotion casually or see it as a secondary activity. Devotion must be the very heart, the very center and core of our being. It must reflect the point and place where we breathe, it is what holds our heartbeat. When we lose our devotional life or begin to neglect it, we are essentially losing our spiritual life and it's perspective. This of course, gives the enemy opportunity to step into our (thoughts) lives, either subtly or aggressively, bringing derailment, distraction, and potentially destruction.

The Indescribable Joy of Priestly Devotion

I do not think there is a word to fully describe and capture the joy, peace, and sense of fulfillment waiting for those who respond in the true spirit of priestly devotion to this sound of invitation. It is in the place of devotion that our priesthood begins and is established as the foundation that sets the tone for the beginning or closure of the day.

Anticipating and participating in the inflow and outflow of life being experienced in the Spirit through prayer, gratitude, thanksgiving, supplication, and intercession is beyond what we can imagine or describe. Indeed, the manifestations of the speakings and utterances around the throne bring an exaltation that edifies and sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Coming with Expectation

Devotion is an invitation to come with deep, sincere expectation that spurs our faith attitude toward the point where the channel of our spirit opens to all the intentions and directions of the Lord for the day. As we come in faith, our hope and love for God, for ourselves, and for the world around us is stirred to a new level that the enemy cannot stop. We can boldly say it is a wonderful experience to daily present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice and see the fragrance of such sacrifice rise to Him in a manner that renews our covenant and relationship with Him.

Making Devotion Central

This is why devotion is not something we put on the back burner. We have to make it the first and most important thing in our lives. It is not just something we do at the beginning of the day or before bed, it must be part of our very life.

Of course, we must have sacred moments where we do not allow anything or anyone to distract us. These are the periods in time where you are offering your life, your day, your moments, your heart, your desires, and all that you are to God. This is the point where you talk to God about life, about yourself, about what is going on in and around you. This is where you receive strength, courage, and direction.

Devotion cannot be compared to any other important thing in our lives. We have to make devotion and the spirit of devotion part and parcel of who we are. To me, that is the only way we can overcome this world filled with evil, depression, and all kinds of distractions that the enemy has planned to keep us from reaching the place of pleasing God.

You will often hear many Christians say they cannot hear the voice of God, they cannot feel His joy, they do not understand what God is doing, they are always sad, depressed, and down. This is often because they do not have a devotional life. The fruits of the Spirit grow and manifest first in the place of devotion.