by Pastor David
I can still remember graduating college. For years, I had poured myself into my studies. Each day I woke up with a sense of purpose. I had a set schedule. My goal was clear. Graduate. Then, as soon as the graduation music ended, a sense of aimlessness crept over me. “Now what?”
As we close out our season of fasting and prayer, you might be tempted to feel a bit like I did – “Now what?”
For 4 weeks you’ve heard from Christian brothers and sisters who have encouraged, challenged, and inspired you. Perhaps you’ve started reading God’s Word for the first time. You’ve been on a spiritual high. But now the end has come and you’re wondering where to go from here.
Here are a few tips to get your going (or, if you’re a Vet, to take your existing times with God to the next level):
Set a specific time and place to meet with God. I know it sounds unnecessary. But believe me, it works. When we dedicate certain times and places for personal worship, it helps us be consistent and say, “No,” to lesser things. For me, this is on the couch early in the morning before my son comes barreling down the steps. I miss this time and the rest of my day doesn’t seem complete.
Set boundaries. I get it. It’s hard to tell ourselves, “No.” When I wake up, my first temptation is to check Facebook and the news. But I’ve learned that when I do, my times with God aren’t as meaningful. Maybe you’re not an early riser. But you still need boundaries. Learn to shut the TV off. Learn to put the phone on mute or leave it in another room. Try telling your spouse you need some time alone. Boundaries help you stay focused and keep others from stealing the most important part of your day.
Stick to a reading plan. Confession time. I don’t like a strict reading schedule. I find them restrictive and suffocating. But I do follow a loose plan. Each day, I read a Psalm, Proverb, and another passage of scripture. I feel like the Psalm focus my heart on worship, the Proverbs hone my mind, and the scripture passage speaks truth into my soul. Sometimes I read through a book. Sometimes I look up verses on a topic. Whatever you do, just be consistent and intentional. (Pro Tip: Reading one chapter of Proverbs a day will allow you to read the book once a month or 12 times a year.)
Find someone to hold you accountable. Until you get the hang of it, daily devotions can be hard. You’ll be tempted to slide here or there and, if this goes unchecked, will default back to your old habits. If this is new for you or you’ve struggled with consistency in the past, try finding someone you trust in church and asking them to pray for you. Give them permission to ask you how you’re doing with devotions at least once a week or so. Just knowing someone’s going to check in on you can do wonders for your self-discipline.
Follow a prayer acronym. Each of us have fallen into ruts in our prayer life. Often we get stuck using the same language or asking God for things. When that happens, try following a prayer acronym like ACTS. It’s short Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Try splitting your prayer time between times of adoration to God for who He is, times of confession for your shortcomings, times of thanksgiving for what He’s done, and times of asking Him to meet your needs and the desires of your heart.
Add Variety to your devotionals.
Trying reading from an old hymnal. Old hymns are full of theology and often speak the language of our souls. Read the lyrics to an old hymn like, “Amazing Love,” or, “Satisfied,” and watch as God blesses your spirit.
Try reading from different translations of the Bible. I’ve found that my mind can disengage when I read familiar passages of scripture. It’s like listening to a preacher who never changes his tone. Hearing the same truths worded differently can help open them up to us in a fresh way.
Try picking up a devotional. If you’ve enjoyed these daily devotionals, you may enjoy picking another from Amazon or a Christian book store. There are several designed to give you a simple thought each day of the year. “Experiencing God: Day by Day,” by Henry Blackaby is a good one for new believers. For those who’ve been at this a while, “This Day with the Master,” by Dennis Kinlaw, “My Utmost for His Highest,” by Oswalt Chambers, and “Streams in the Dessert,” by L.B. Cowman are all rich titles.
Try changing your pace. One summer my sister read the entire Bible over the course of two months. Just thinking about that gives me a anxiety; I’m a slow reader. But I have found that a change of pace can help me get more out of my quiet times with God. Maybe read an entire book of the Bible in one sitting. This often helps you get the big picture. Or, try taking 5-10 verses and meditating on only them for the entire time. It’s surprising what you learn when you’re not rushed to get to the next be.
Try being quiet. Funny thing, a lot of people treat prayer like a one-sided conversation. It’s amazing what you might hear God say if you’ll just stop talking and learn to embrace the quiet, listening for His voice. Don’t hear anything? No problem. You’re just showing God you want to hear from Him.
Try journaling. I know that doesn’t sound manly. I don’t have a “Dear Diary” moment each morning. But I do record things in my Bible. I underline verses, write answers to prayer, record sermon outlines…Journaling Bibles that have lines next to the verse make this a breeze and help give you a reference point to revisit in the future.
I realize that there is some much more that could be said (and from more qualified individuals than myself). But these are some tips to get you started.
Something I liked about my college’s graduation ceremony was that they didn’t call graduation, “Graduation.” Instead they chose to call it a “Commencement Service” You see, to graduate signals an end to something. To commence is to begin. They liked to think that graduation wasn’t the end but the beginning of a new chapter in life and ministry. It is my sincere prayer that this month of seeking God isn’t the end but the beginning of a new chapter of seeking intimacy with God. Thank you for joining us and may God richly bless you as you endeavor to live for Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 – “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”