Now that we know how daily devotions grow us in our inner life, let's take a look at how they affect our outer life. Once we allow God to change us on the inside, we will be more equipped to encourage others in their spiritual walk, and to live our days for God and for others. So, here are four other purposes for having daily devotions.
The first purpose for having daily devotions to prepare the outer life is submission: When we come to our special time with God, we must come with a submissive spirit. We must be willing to give God control of our life. If we try to run our lives on our own strength, we will be tired and frustrated by the end of the day. Now I know for me, the only reason I don't always submit to God's will is my pride and my independence. Ever since we were young, most of have learned that in order to survive in this world we need to be independent. But God is really teaching me to have a proper balance between independence and dependence on Him. We need to give the reigns to our spiritual life over to God. Then once we do that we will fell a huge burden lifted from our shoulders. and by being more dependent on God and less dependent on ourselves, we will find that we have more time to worship our Lord. We must be willing to let go of all our problems and completely surrender them to God. Submitting to God is realizing that it is not our will but God's will being done.
The second purpose for having daily devotions to prepare the outer life is direction: Whenever I need someone to talk to it is so refreshing to know that God is always there. I don't know about you, but whenever I have a bad day, I just grab my journal and just start writing and it really feels like I am talking to God and I feel SO much better! and the best thing about it is that He is NEVER too busy to listen! God is always there to take away my problems and to guide me through everyday and to help me set my priorities straight. But in order to experience all that to the fullest we need to spend uninterrupted time with God. We need to devote a special time every morning where we can spend cultivating our relationship with God. In order to be able to do God's work, we need to take the time to sit quietly long enough for God to tell me what He wants me to do. We should follow Jesus' example: get up early in the morning, go to a solitary place, and pray to our heavenly Father. Only then will we be able to do our Father's work properly.
The third purpose is for Intercession: A daily quiet time with God will better enable us to intercede on the behalf of our friends in need. Instead of taking matters into our own hands, we need to let God take control of the situation. He can do a much better job than we can. Instead of trying to change someone ourselves, let God change us first, then give that person over to God and let Him change them. All we have to do is pray for our friends and God will take care of the rest.
The last purpose for having daily devotions to prepare the outer life is transformation: The longer I spend with the Lord, the more I will be transformed into His likeness. Come into God's presence with an "unveiled" face. Take off the "good Christian" mask, and just be yourself when you come into His presence. Once you enter God's presence be ready and willing to be transformed into His likeness. This not a rushed process though. You are not transformed into God's likeness overnight. You have to take the necessary time to spend with your heavenly Father and overtime we will become more and more like Him.
The result of applying these purposes to your daily devotions is someone who is ready to do the Father's work and to give Him the glory for everything.
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