The Mission-Driven Devotional Life_Sermonette

Sincere, earnest, personal morning devotion is a powerful practice that will set a positive tone for the entire day. Here are some key reasons why it's important:

1. Spiritual Growth: Starting the day with prayer, Bible study, and reflection helps deepen your relationship with God and strengthens your faith.

How can morning devotion help us to grow spiritually?

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2. Mental Clarity: Morning devotion provides a quiet time to devote what is on your mind to our Heavenly Father who cares for you, focus on your goals, and seek guidance from the Lord for the day ahead.

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Psalm 55:22 CSB

22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

1 Peter 5:6–7 CSB

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

3. Emotional Stability: Spending time in devotion will bring peace, reduce stress, and help you manage emotions more effectively.

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Isaiah 32:17 CSB

17 The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.

Isaiah 26:3 CSB

3 You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.

4. Purpose and Direction: It helps you align your actions with your values and purpose, giving you a sense of direction and motivation. You put yourself in the position to allow God to guide you throughout the day.

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Psalm 32:8 CSB

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.

This is a powerful promise!

5. Positive Mindset: Beginning the day with gratitude and positive thoughts can improve your overall outlook and attitude.

How can consistent morning devotion help us have a positive mindset?

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Ellen White emphasized the importance of morning devotion in her writings. She said:

Steps to Christ Chapter 8—Growing up into Christ

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.” This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.

Some words of warning for those who are careless or take the devotional experience lightly.

Isaiah by the Day: A New Devotional Translation Thought for the Day: Isaiah 65:1–25

The deadly sin of the Lord’s people is neglect of his Word—the Bible set aside, or doubted, or half-believed, or denigrated, or left as a closed book gathering dust. How it hurts the Lord when we let a day start without opening the Book (Isa. 50:4)! What loss to us and damage to our souls when the Word of God has not been hidden in the heart to guard us against sin (Ps. 119:11)! Here is a lover who gets a letter from his beloved and says, ‘Oh, I can’t be bothered with that!’ Imagine the feelings of the beloved on finding all those love-letters, oh yes, carefully kept, and, yes indeed, tied round with red ribbon, but the envelopes never opened (Isa. 29:11).

Gospel Workers, Revised and Enlarged Section 7—Helps in Gospelwork

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor.

The world is in darkness and engulfed with sadness, depression, crime, hopelessness etc. God has called you to be a light in this dark world. Jesus said,

Matthew 5:14–16 CSB

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

It’s important to note that Jesus said, “Let your light shine” and not “make your light shine.”

1. What is the difference between letting your light shine and making your light shine?

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2. What are ways you can think of that will help you “let your shine”?

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David writes,

Psalm 119:105 CSB

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

3. In what way is the Word a lamp and a light to us?

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The same light the lights our path will illumine the path for others.

John Wesley was once asked about the secret of his power. He responded,

((John Wesley))

“I set my heart on fire with the love of Christ and people come on watch me burn” (John Wesley).

We can do likewise.

The Word empowers us to be the light the people are looking for. Many reject Christianity not because of Christ, but because of Christians.

Someone once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Psalm 119:11 NKJV

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Started this since 2021 for an assignment with my professor… You can continue keeping a devotional journal after the class. I said to myself “maybe.”

Week of January 5, 2025

Week of January 28, 2024 (sick)

Week of February 4, 2024 (sick)

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E: Is there an example for me to follow?

S: Is there a sin for me to avoid?

C: Is there a command for me to obey?

A: What does the text teach about Jesus, the Father & the Holy Spirit?

P: Is there a promise for me to claim?

E: Is there a difficulty here for me to explore?

S: Is there something in this passage that I should pray about?

Use the ESCAPES method on Jer 29:10-14 & Isa 63:7-9

Jeremiah 29:10–14 CSB

10 For this is what the Lord says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”

Isaiah 63:7–9 CSB

7 I will make known the Lord’s faithful love and the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, because of all the Lord has done for us— even the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, which he did for them based on his compassion and the abundance of his faithful love. 8 He said, “They are indeed my people, children who will not be disloyal,” and he became their Savior. 9 In all their suffering, he suffered, and the angel of his presence saved them. He redeemed them because of his love and compassion; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.

Assignment: Start a Mission-Driven Devotional Journal using the ESCAPES method and share your insights next week.

The Mission-Driven Devotional Life_Sermonette

The Benefits of Morning Devotion

The Importance of Morning Devotion

Words of Warning

The Purpose of the Mission-Driven Devotional Life

Ideas to Revitalize Morning Devotion

ESCAPES