I want to talk with you about my devotion to God—and yours. Throughout Scripture, the great men and women of faith were known for their private time with the Lord. Isaac meditated in the fields every evening. David prayed three times a day and lay awake at night thinking about God. Daniel opened his window toward Jerusalem and prayed three times daily, no matter the cost. And Jesus Himself—again and again—went away alone, early in the morning or late at night, to talk with His Father.
That makes me ask—how devoted am I in private? It’s one thing to worship faithfully in public, but am I drawing near to God in the quiet moments of my life? James 4:8 promises that if I draw near to God, He will draw near to me. And I need that—because I need His strength, His peace, His guidance every single day.
Private devotion nourishes my soul. Jesus said Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Without that spiritual food, I grow weak, and Satan finds a foothold. When I study God’s Word and pray in private, I put on the armor of God, and I’m ready to face the battles of the day.
Private devotion also gives me peace. Philippians 4 says prayer is the antidote to anxiety. This world is full of uncertainty and unrest, but when I stop, open God’s Word, and pour out my heart to Him, He calms me and steadies my steps.
To do this, I have to choose a time and place—a quiet spot with no distractions—where I can meet with God every day. I turn off my phone. I open my Bible. I pray. I give thanks for blessings I often take for granted. I confess my sins quickly, before I forget. I ask for my needs and intercede for others. I meditate on Jesus—how He lived, how He loved, how He humbled Himself—and I think about the words of Scripture and the works of God. And then, I praise Him.
David, “a man after God’s own heart,” did it. Jesus, the Son of God, did it. And if they needed that time alone with God, so do I. Psalm 119 says, “I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help… My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.”
So I have to ask—what are my private devotions like? Am I really giving God that time? Am I drawing close to Him in the quiet, or am I letting the noise of life drown Him out?
If you need to renew your devotion to Him—or if you need to begin a relationship with Him—why not start today?
