Discover the simple secret that makes daily devotions achievable for everyone.
You're off to a great start!
In our first lesson, you connected with God, and today you will connect with God again!
But first, we need to address the biggest problem we have:
**We make our spiritual lives much more difficult than necessary.**
One of my friends once confided in me that he struggled to have a daily quiet time. I asked him why.
He explained that he felt it wasn't a "real" devotional unless he spent at least an hour praying and studying the Bible. He also felt that "true" Bible study required reading at least two commentaries in addition to the Bible verses. He also wanted to look up cross-references, the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words, and write detailed notes. He had a long prayer list of people he had promised to faithfully pray for.
And his list went on and on.
I felt tired listening to his plan. And I knew why he struggled to have daily devotions!
But I also understood his perspective. He felt God deserved his very best. He had tremendous reverence for God's word. He was anxious about misunderstanding the Bible or falling short in his Christian duties.
And I certainly can't judge him! I've spent twenty years in full-time Christian ministry, earned an M.Div. degree, and I'm currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree! In my bones, I often feel the pressure to please God.
Do you feel the pressure to have "serious" quiet times?
Today, we're going to solve this problem forever.
**Here's the most important secret to this entire course:**
**Celebrate connecting with God by reading one Bible verse and saying one prayer in one minute a day.**
As a full-time minister of the gospel, I give you permission to enjoy God for one minute a day.
Devotionals are about experiencing joy with God - not enduring religious drudgery.
If you can celebrate connecting with God by reading one Bible verse and saying one prayer in one minute a day, then you can always have daily devotions.
Maybe you feel I should make the program harder. Raise the bar! Push you to a higher standard. Get up at 4:30 am! A forty-day fast!
But consider what Jesus said:
*Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.*
Did you notice? You just read another Bible verse! And it helped you relax.
Let's celebrate! That's two days in a row that you've connected with God's word!
But back to the lesson. How can you be too busy to say a short prayer and read a single Bible verse?
Here's what it might look like:
*After I take my first sip of coffee in the morning, I will read one Bible verse and ask God to help me apply it to my life.*
*After I finish my coffee, I will thank God for loving me and guiding me for another day.*
In the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee, you've read a Bible verse, thought about it, and prayed to connect with God. And if you drink coffee every morning, like I do, then we've already set aside the perfect time to meet with God.
The point? You can do this.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Do you feel pressure to have 'serious' or lengthy quiet times? Where does that pressure come from?
What would change if you gave yourself permission to celebrate a one-minute devotional?
When and where could you spend one minute with God every day?
Complete this sentence: 'After I __________, I will read one Bible verse and say one prayer.' Write it somewhere you'll see it.
You've already read a Bible verse in this lesson. Take 30 seconds right now to thank God for his invitation to rest.
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