yourself to Godliness. —1 Timothy 4:7
Devotion is to possess, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.
Devotional reading is reading with the mind and :
- Different than bible study or exegetical reading.
- To bring us into divine companionship and a God encounter.
- Read for
You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come
to receive this life. —John 5:39-40
Consider:
- Has your faith journey been characterized by a head-heart split?
- How has the way you read scriptures directed your relationship with God?
- How has the way you read scriptures influenced your habits?
Luke 8: 18, “Therefore, consider carefully how you
TPT – ‘So pay careful attention to your
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.
6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see.
When they hear, they won’t understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.
13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message,
but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. —Luke 8:4-15
The condition of our
will determine what God’s Word can do in our life.
At any time, our heart can take on one of the four characteristics Jesus talks about in this parable:
- Roadside
- Rocky soil
- Thorny soil
What type of soil are you?
The
is meant for fertile soil.
Traditionally, Devotional Reading has 5 parts:
1. Silence – quiet preparation of the heart.
2. Read the word, slowly and out loud, lingering on any words that resonate with you.
3. Meditate – read it out loud a second time. Listen for an invitation that God is extending to you in this word.
4. Respond & pray. Reading the scripture a 3rd time. Talk to God about your feeling around the text, maybe you’re resistant or more aware of being with God in a deeper way …
5. Contemplate. Take time to rest and wait in the presence of God. All time for the word to sink deeply into your soul.
Every Day this week:
Sit with Jesus
Read a portion of scripture
Listen for what God is speaking to you
Talk to God about it