meeting with God

Devotions is something evangelicals are known for, not that that many of us practice it. It's called "personal devotions," and is a time when one gets into Scripture, a passage in God's word, and prays. It is normally done in quiet, and so is also called "my quiet time." Many use a booklet such as Our Daily Bread (I work where this is written, and made, and know some of the writers).

I think some such practice can be helpful if it's a time of one seeking to come near to God, and hear God's voice so as to follow. If one wants some sort of mystical experience or encounter with God, then it will likely be unfruitful over the long haul, because it would be beneficial only as part of one's walk of faith, and devotion to God. If practiced it should become precious and important as a chief priority, because one is seeking to be close to God. And Jesus who is our example often got up mornings, early, to meet with the Father.

If I had been raised in a denomination that used liturgical prayer, I would be prone to want to use a prayer book for such times on a regular basis- and even though not, I do want to. There are advantages to that, and it does get one into Scripture, as well. One ends up praying the same prayers others have. We need both our own words, and the words of others who have come up with helpful, Scriptural ways of praying. Those words in time are helpful in that they can become our own words to God, praying those same words with other believers who use the same book.

But if from these practices we expect something dramatic in and out from our lives, we won't keep it up. It's rather a question of priority, as we seek to live close to the person of God, and be open to God at all times. Not comfortable oftentimes, but for those who really practice this, they will more and more become settled in it as a part of them. And as part of their life in God through Christ.

Two caveats here. First, I myself haven't practiced any kind of personal devotions for years. And even when I did, it was probably not kept up consistently. Or was done rather poorly, perhaps legalistically as in just doing something with little heart in it, and being done with it. I failed to see the value in it. Not to say I haven't had special times of drawing near to God. And we must beware of a spirituality that is all about us and God. We will hear God's voice in part only through others. God chooses it that way, because God, who as Trinity is community, values community among us.

We need to be those who are daily seeking to draw near and devote ourselves to God, no matter how we do it. The word of God and prayer are important for this, and good use of a prayer book can help. I speak as one who seeks to do it throughout the day, and in the course of a day. But I'm beginning to see the value of having those special times, along with that.

How about any reader here? What would you like to share from your own life on this? Or any thoughts.

walking with a limp

John Wimber said something like, "Never trust a man who does not walk with a limp." In saying this, he was referring to Jacob, a man who was self-sufficient to the core, and lived up to his name, one who grabs the heel, a deceiver.

But after Jacob wrestled with the angel of God, and in so doing, with God himself, his name was changed to Israel. Jacob, now Israel, had a new walk with God, I take it, at least something of a different orientation in it. In the wrestling God had wrenched Jacob's hip out of its socket. The rest of Jacob's life, he walked with a limp. And with a new dependence on God.

I look for this in my life. I've surely unlearned the old Ted, and put on the new Ted in Jesus to a significant extent. Maybe I need something more of that same kind of wrestling with God, and refusing to let go until I receive God's blessing. And in that process, maybe there are some key aspects of my own self-sufficiency that I must let go. I'm groping a bit here, but this is on my mind this morning.

What can you add here to help us, or anything you'd like to add?