EVENING DEVOTIONAL, PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS WITH ISAIAH-PHILLIPS AKINTOLA. SESSION 4.

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 PrayerDevotion 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 DevotionI 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.