The 5 Keys to Your Devotional Life

 WHAT IS DEVOTION?

God wants us to be devoted people with hearts that are sold out to Him.  The latter part of  2 Chronicles 6:14 in the New American Standard says that He keeps covenant and shows lovingkindness to His servants that walk before Him with all their heart!  Devotion is a heart issue!  God wants to move in our lives in such a way that we experience His lovingkindness and that we experience the promises of His word happening in our lives.  Who wouldn’t want God to keep His covenant with them?  Who wouldn’t want God to show His unfailing love to them?  2 Chronicles 6:14 tells us that there is a qualifier for receiving these things from Him:    WALKING BEFORE THE LORD WITH WHOLEHEARTED DEVOTION!

What good are the 5 keys to our private devotional lives without a heart that is devoted to God?  Without a devoted heart we have no motivation to do the things He is calling us to do.  What motivates you?  Have you ever heard the term “Win one for the Gipper?”  Knute Rockne called George Gipp the greatest football player Notre Dame ever produced. However, at the height of his college career, Gipp was struck with a serious infection that took his life. On his deathbed he told his coach, “Rock, someday when things look real tough for Notre Dame, ask the boys to go out there and win one for the Gipper.”

Eight years later, Knute recounted the deathbed story for a lackluster team about to face the powerful Army football team of 1928. The Fighting Irish played beyond themselves that day. In the second half, Notre Dame halfback Jack Chevigny took the ball near the goal line and, having nowhere to go, catapulted over the Army line into the end zone. Jack then leaped to his feet shouting, “That one was for the Gipper!” Notre Dame went on to beat Army 12-6.

We have WAY more than a “George Gipp” tragedy or a coaches motivational speech to move us! We have Jesus Christ that died tragically on an old rugged beam and gave His life for you and me to stir us to action!  That should be motivation enough for a lifetime! We need to be a people, I need to be a person, you need to be a person, who is motivated by the cross to a life of wholehearted devotion!  Sometimes we say, “Man, I am not motivated by things around me.” or, “I have lost my motivation.”  Renew your mind to the reality of what Christ did on the cross and remember HE is the true Gipper! Devotion is WHOLEHEARTED. Devotion is walking before the Lord with all your heart. Today can you honestly say: “I am walking with the Lord with ALL of my Heart.” Are there areas of your life that are keeping you from wholehearted devotion? Today He is ready to help you make that change. His arms are open, you are accepted, and He is ready for you life fully devoted to Him. It’s time, let’s pray!