Self-Control: First Things First

Having a Daily Devotion with God Every Day Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matt 6:33). The Definition of a Daily Devotion “Our relationship with God is meant to be a love affair” O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1) 4 Reasons to have a Daily Devotion: ►Express our love for God We spell love = time ►Hear from God “When the Bible speaks. God speaks” ►Talk to God (Prayer) → Telling God you love Him → Telling God you need Him → Telling God your struggles and needs ►Power to face the day For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The challenges of a daily devotion ►Fighting the flesh And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (Mark 1:35). “God the best–‘not the rest’” ► The danger of making it into religious requirement 3 Things to do: ►Make it a priority → Calendar → Protect your time with God → Eliminate distractions ►You will need to find a place ►You will need to establish a process → Listen to this devotion → Read Bible → Pray