Call it quiet-time, personal devotions, or whatever you like—the time you spend with God in prayer and studying His Word is your best possible investment! Jesus’ resurrection opened the door for believers to enjoy a rich relationship with God. Knowing the Lord in an intimate and personal way is an amazing privilege!
The steps below provide a biblical structure for meeting with God.
1) Enter God’s Presence—Approach the Lord reverently and humbly.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8, NET)
- Be Reverent: respect God’s supreme authority and greatness. You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies. He is the One you must respect; He is the One you must fear. (Isaiah 8:13, NET)
- Be Focused: reflect on God’s character and deeds (not on yourself). O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt Yourself as the Ruler of all. (1 Chronicles 29:11, NET)
- Be Clean: confess any selfish attitudes or sinful actions. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, NET)
2) Enjoy God’s Friendship—Delight in the Lord while reading and praying.
“Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20, NET)
- Read Your Bible: anticipate God speaking directly to you. Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in Your law! (Psalm 119:18, NET)
- Record Your Highlights: write key insights, promises, and action steps. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25, NET)
- Pray from Your Heart: talk openly with God about what matters most. “When you call out to Me and come to Me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek Me in prayer and worship, you will find Me available to you. If you seek Me with all your heart and soul, 14I will make Myself available to you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:12-14a, NET)
3) Abide in Christ—Walk by faith in the Lord’s sacred presence all day.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from Me you can accomplish nothing.” (John 15:5, NET)
- Pledge Allegiance: promise you’ll yield to God’s loving leadership. Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey Him. And today the Lord has declared you to be His special people (Deuteronomy 26:17-18a, NET)
- Expect Direction: trust and obey the Holy Spirit’s soft voice. But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, NET)
- Bear Good Fruit: deny self, work hard, please God, serve people. so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please Him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. (Colossians 1:10-12, NET)
4) Reach Your Peak—Evaluate today and transform tomorrow.
Examine me, O Lord, and test me! Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives For I am ever aware of Your faithfulness, and Your loyalty continually motivates me. (Psalm 26:2-3, NET)
- Evaluate Today: recall events & ideas, successes & failures, joys & sorrows. But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, NET)
- Address Issues: decide how you can adjust and improve. Therefore be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise (Ephesians 5:15, NET)
- Transform Tomorrow: prioritize your activities and pray for your plans. All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives. Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:2-3, NET)
Application: Find a trusted, likeminded friend who will keep you accountable!
