My, Devotion to Him #21
The Daily Devotionals that I’ve seen or read consist of the same format:
1. Title
2. Verse
3. Message/Reflection in which is conjured into a
4. modern situation.
5. Prayer
6. Key Thought
Most of the time steer clear of controversial issues, complex issues, long verses, multi verses, drawing things out, provoking deeper thinking. Most of the time are short in length about one page, usually gentle in presenting, uplifting, hardly seeks to convict.
In which most of these sit around 250-500 words in total. And the 500 word ones are accepted by a very limited amount of publications. To find more of these you would have to find writers who post their own work or have a Ministry of their own. I’ve tired the route of selling devotionals and not for money purposes. But, to have them published. I am rejected because I do not conform to these traditional steps. Right now only 4 of 16 of these devotions would have been accepted in word count. However, none would be accepted due to not having any of the other things required.
“My, Devotion to Him” consist of:
1. Intro (sometimes)
2. Verse/verses
3. Message (generally 500-900 words. With the occasional ones sitting under 500 and over 900)
4. Generally wrote Sermons style.
Typically a Sermonette. Meaning if recorded audibly it would take about 5-10mins. Whereas traditional ones would take about 1-5mins in its entirety. With 5mins being a rarity once again. I will not steer clear of controversial issues, complex issues, long verses, multi verses, drawing things out, provoking deeper thinking.
5. Most of the time will not be short in length. Usually a few pages long, sometimes gentle but not always in presenting, sometimes uplifting though each person is different and some may be convicted.
3. Will not steer clear of Series.
4. No reflection most of the time.
5. No prayer most of the time.
6. Notes instead of a Key Thought.
Now, I’m not trying to bash one page devotionals. I think they are great. But, I wanted to create something that I’ve not seen in a devotional. I wanted to make something that was in between the traditional devotions and a sermon. Something that changed things. Allowed the readers to have more time on an issue, more time to think, read, be in devotion than a single page. I won’t be the one to make everything a modern situation for people. That’s just not me. I will try and make things personal if able. Make things understood at my best, draw out things, incite deeper thinking, provoke the thoughts (not in a negative way). I think people should be able to have more supply of spiritual food during the week than a one page devotional. And anyone who knows me, knows that most of the time I’m a straight forward kinda guy. I won’t beat around the bush to make this a happy go lucky type of devotion. I seek devotion to Him; somethings I’ve been convicted on has been and will be in these devotionals.
I do try to limit the length of these too about 4 pages. 1 for the title, verse used, and intro if I write one. 3 pages for the verse, message, and notes. I am working on a study, in which these will be separate from the devotionals. They will be under the same title. However, they will not be used as a daily devotion. Due to length, amount of studying, and text involved.
I believe I have made something to my best ability that is balanced. It is readable I believe to a new Christian, and yet invites deeper thinking to a more mature Christian. We are all on different levels and so I strive to make a devotional whose formate is easy. Words are simple in more than 90% of these devotionals. They are drawn out in understandable ways I believe. Yet, formed in a way that helps others dive a little deeper than usual. And helping others do the same without them knowing it.
A simple devotion is like this:
1) “Nothing is Impossible”
2) Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
3) Sometimes in life we face odds than seem impossible. However, if we just remember that with faith in God nothing will ever be impossible.
4) “Lord, help me in my faith in you. Help me as I face impossible odds. Because with you nothing is impossible.”
5) What impossible odd are you facing today?
That’s it. Which it’s simple as stated, easy to read, gentle, understandable, short and because of that anyone can read it at anytime of the day.
1. Title / 2. Verse / 3. Message/Reflection / 4. Prayer / 5. Key Thought
______
A “My, Devotion to Him” is like this:
Title: The God of Impossibilities
VERSE PASSAGE: Matthew 19:25 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – NIV
Wow! Jesus just made one of the boldest claims in the Bible that we can ever read. However, it seems that many Christians do not apply this to their life’s.
From the start of our life we are told to know our limitations. We can’t have this. Don’t touch that. Don’t put that in your mouth. You can’t touch the fire. You can’t do that because your to young/old. You can’t because you didn’t go to college. You can’t because you have no experience.
As we grow up in life, it’s actually a sign of maturity to recognize our limitations and learn to live within them. There are limits to everything. It’s a fact of life. And older generations who have learned this pass them on (well try to anyways).
However, God has no limits. When we enter into the spiritual realm, we have to take off all the limits. We have to renew our minds with the truth that God is not like us. He can do anything He wants. He can use us in anyway. He can make happen that which is impossible.
We have an amazing God whose power is so vast that we can’t even begin to comprehend it. He created the universe by words. Yes, words. He wasn’t flying around building each cluster of planets in a galaxy. He just said it and it was so. How awesome is He.
So, many times we find ourselves wondering if our situation is too hard for the Lord. We can’t see how even God can pull us through. Really? God said “Let there be light” and it was so. Light wasn’t made before Him, He didn’t call the electrician and say “Let there be light”. He just said it and light was created by Him. And yet we think our problem is so complex, it’s so hard, that the God who made the world in 6 days could be powerless in fixing our problem.
VERSE PASSAGE: Jeremiah 32:26-27 “Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? – NIV
The answer is NO! Never ever will there be anything that is to hard for God to comprehend or handle. The only thing that limits God is our unbelief, we our the ones that limits God in what He does for us. People are just so amazing in themselves. How we can believe in the Bible, believe in Christ and God and who they are and what they’ve done. Yet, constantly we think when we face impossible odds, that God is facing the same impossible odds. That He is just like us saying “man this is gonna be hard”, “I don’t know what to do”, “how can I get through this”, “no one understands”.
How about honoring God by believing that nothing is too difficult for Him. That He does not have the same limitations as us. That He is truly great. That He can do all things. That nothing is impossible for Him.
NOTES:
1. Nothing is to hard for God.
2. With God all things are possible.
3. Only we limit the what God does for us. Which is based upon our unbelief/belief.
4. Honor Him by believing in Him and all that He has done, is doing, and will do.
Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 