New Devotional Outline

With everything going on in my family, I have not been posting much. I have been still writing, but mostly writing out my conversations with God. Although these times have been difficult, I have had some really good times with God where I have felt very close to Him.

Last week I began Romans in my Bible Reading plan. As I read Romans 1:11-13 I was really struck by what Paul said was the reason for his writing. Paul said He was writing to the believers in Rome because (v11) He longed to bring some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord. (12) He wanted to encourage them in their faith. (13) He wanted to work among them and see spiritual fruit, just as he had seen among other Gentiles. As I meditated on those verses, I have been encouraged once again to keep writing! But, I have also been asking, how do I take what He is teaching me and translate it into something short, but meaningful to share with others?  

I am realizing that when I take the time to organize my thoughts into a devotional, it takes a lot of time. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in doing that, I don’t have time to pray. I don’t think one is more important than the other. So I need to figure out how to shorten my devo writing, so that I am still taking time to pray. As I asked the Lord that question, the above verses began to emerge as an outline for what I can be sharing, and what I can be praying. This can accomplish both. So, going forward, I am going to try and use these 3 points as an outline for what I share with you, and an outline for what to pray.

• What Spiritual Gift is God giving me for my growth today, that I can share with others? (Rom 1:11)
• What encouraged me in my faith? (Rom 1:12)
• What spiritual fruit does God want to work in me? What can I share with others that God can use to produce fruit among them also? (Rom 1:13)

Here’s my first installment.

Bible Reading:

• Psalm 60
• Romans 2
• 1 Samuel 7

What Spiritual Gift is God giving me for my growth today, that I can share with others? (Rom 1:11)

• Ps 60:4 But you have raised a banner for those who fear you— a rallying point in the face of attack. 
• Ps 60:11-12 all human help is useless. With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

What is your rally cry that keeps you going God’s way? 

• 2 Cor 5:15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
• John 17:21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
• 1 Cor 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
• Romans 2:6-7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

What will encourage them in their faith?

“Do you want to return to the Lord with ALL YOUR HEARTS? They had just experienced 20 years of feeling abandoned by God… (1 Sam 7:2 The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them.) Samuel says, “You want to feel like God is with you.. that God is for you? Get rid of your foreign gods!” (1 Sam 7:3-4)

What spiritual fruit does God want to see from today’s passage?  

Circumcision is not the outward act, but it is a change of heart (Rom 2:29). Complete abandonment is what God wants! He longs for those who will not live for themselves (2 Cor 5:15), but will be completely abandoned to Him. (Rom 2:6-7). God knows even the secrets of our hearts… those hidden sins that keep us from being completely abandoned… the things that distract us from being totally sold out for God…