I hope you have started your devotional.  It will be of great benefit to you.  If you are serious about a relationship with the Lord, you have to spend time with Him.  15 minutes a day is not long.  At first it might take a little longer because you are not used to it.  It might feel strange because it is something new.  But after a short while, you will be whizzing your memorization Scripture in section 2 of your notebook, reading your Scriptures and choosing one impactful one, writing it and answering the questions (Lord, You are__.  Lord, forgive me for ___.  Lord, thank You for ___.) in section 1 of your notebook.    

 

What is God's plan?

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

In your devotional, ponder how God wants you to apply what He is telling you.  The Holy Spirit will reveal actions, attitudes and priorities in your life that He wants to help you develop or change.  Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”  Peter and John were fishermen without much education.  But their lives reflected the wisdom of Jesus.  Others will notice the peace of God and the strength that God will give you when you daily spend time with God.  Each of us is important in God's plan to win, train, and encourage others.

 

Matthew 28:20b “...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  We can have fellowship with Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  In your devotional time, God will meet with you and guide you through His Word.  Psalms 32:8a “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:” Every solution for any decision and problem is in His Word.  Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  The Lord guides us through his Word every morning. Isaiah 50:4b “...he wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” 

God does not stop blessing us when we are not faithful in meeting with Him.  He decides to be faithful to your devotional.  It is important and better to have a few minutes each morning than to be fickle and then suddenly when you have an emergency spend a lot of time on it at once.

An athlete trains daily whether he feels like it or not.  He knows that being consistent will win the race and that he will not win by training hard in the last hour.  He knows this will hurt him and he won't win.  Similarly, spiritual development is something that happens with perseverance and discipline.  1 Timothy 4:7b “...exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

 

In our communion with God we gain the strength to be effective in our walk with the Lord.  Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  Now if you miss your devotional one day or a few, don't get discouraged and don't give it up altogether.  Just start over.  If you miss a meal, you don't stop eating altogether.  Likewise, if you miss a devotional, and spiritual eating, don't stop spiritual eating altogether.

 

Apply what God tells you during your quiet time.  James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”  The Lord will direct and correct you as you seek to do His will. 

Correction will include...

...activities you need to start and others you need to stop doing.

...activities you need to develop or change.

Plan ahead for the success you want to achieve.  Decide to get a good night's rest in order to wake up refreshed.  Proverbs 6:9 “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?   Don't think you can stay up late at night and feel like having a good morning devotional.

Start your day with Christ.

Look at the menu, top right.  When you click on "More", you will find the page with the Daily Reading Plan.  For a new memorization Scripture go to the page with the Memorization Scriptures and click on the link.  This is a good place to find a Scripture to memorize.