“Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” I Timothy 4:15 NKJV
Welcome to the 50th weekly devotional recap of the year. This week’s articles taught us some practical ways to respond during and after special seasons of devotion.
We began on Monday with a reminder that in devotion, God is not distant, silent, or passive. He is intentional, attentive, and always speaking. When you come with an open heart, He responds with a timely word that speaks directly to your situation (Jeremiah 33:3). To receive His word, pause long enough to listen. Even on days when you do not feel anything, remember that God’s presence is not measured by emotion but by His promise. Today, as you enter devotion, go with assurance that your Father has something to say to you. Lean in with expectation (Psalm 85:8).
On Tuesday, we learnt about the outcome of special seasons of devotion. Whenever you take out time to separate yourself in devotion, you never come back the same way. Like Jesus (Luke 4:14-15), you can come out with supernatural empowerment and announcement and see a remarkable difference in how you do ministry. Graces are activated, gifts are received, the power of God flows unhindered, and above all, you are changed and aligned to God’s purpose. This is how to live a life of strength by the Spirit (Isaiah 40:30-31).
On Wednesday, we saw how important focus is in special seasons of devotion. In today’s world where a million things are competing for your attention at the same time, you must remember that the single most important ingredient in devotion is your undivided attention to the Lord. Nothing else should matter when you are before your Father (Psalm 29:2). Give yourself to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. Let your fellowship with God be marked by wholehearted fervour. Don’t give in to distractions; let the Lord command your affections.
Thursday’s article charged us to always keep the fire burning (Leviticus 6:13). You come out of special seasons of devotion all fired up, but just as a campfire requires fresh wood to keep burning, your spiritual fervour needs effort to grow stronger. Special seasons of devotion are a gift, but to truly honour what God has done, you must keep your fervour alive, remember His faithfulness, and remain diligent in your walk with Him (1 Timothy 4:15). This is how to carry the impact of these seasons into your everyday life.
We ended the week with a lesson on how to receive and respond to prophecy. When you receive an instruction or prophecy, your first response should be to test it with these two questions: “does it align with Scripture?,” and “does it edify, comfort, or exhort you?” Once a word bears these marks of true prophecy, realize the part you have to play. Pray it through, write it down, and work it out. Don’t just receive prophecies; partner with God until His words become your reality.
Dear believer, it is possible to receive all that God has for you in special seasons of devotion and run with it every day of your life so that you never have a down day. Give yourself diligently during and after these periods, and your profiting will appear to all.
Have a restful weekend.
Bible Reading Plan: Joel, Amos 1–3; John 14:11–15:27