Encountering God Through Devotional Prayer
Devotional Prayer. What is it? I’m a novice on a journey of discovery and that’s what I share with you today.
My experience with devotional prayer began about five years ago when I began to participate in this kind of prayer at HoPE. I am also growing in devotional prayer in my private time with God.
Let’s begin by considering the difference between intercessory prayer and devotional prayer. In intercessory prayer we pray on behalf of others. We speak to God about people or situations and we ask for God ‘s intervention or blessing for those people or that situation.
Devotional prayer, on the other hand, is praying for ourselves. We enter into a conversation with God using the springboard of the Scriptures. Put simply, in intercession we pray for others and in devotional prayer we pray for ourselves.
To pray devotionally I find I need a quiet place where I won’t be interrupted. It takes a while for my busy mind and physical frame to calm down and relax. Some people might play music to get started. I like to just sit quietly or sing a song that comes up in my heart. Others may not appreciate it but I have come to believe that God loves to hear me sing to Him!
Next it helps me to approach God by repeating out-loud to Him His own self-descriptions so I can orient myself exactly to whom I am praying. I like to remind myself of God’s own words about Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6, “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…”. This self-description gives me confidence that I am opening my heart to the merciful God of goodness who is slow to get angry. I can be honest about what’s in my heart with this God.
I also find it helpful to picture in my mind Jesus sitting on the throne beside the Father. Heaven is a real place with a real throne and a real God and a real God-Man. I am confident that Jesus wants to hear my voice and that He is not nervous about all my inner turmoil. I remember His words in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest (peace).”
I consider devotional prayer a call to listen to God speaking to me through the Scriptures and a call to respond to His words. Reading the Scriptures devotionally is hearing Jesus knock on the door of my heart and allowing Him to come in and have a heart to heart conversation with me.
Now I am ready to pray devotionally and I begin with a short passage of Scripture that I read slowly and usually out loud so my eyes can see and my ears can hear. Sometimes I will have a sense of conviction and then I confess to Jesus and ask Him to forgive me and work in me to change my ways and my thoughts. Another time I might be stirred in longing and desire to know Jesus more intimately. Seeing the beauty of God in the Scripture gives rise to thanksgiving and worship. At an another time the Scripture might touch a place of pain in my heart and I feel the need to lament to God about my circumstance or my interior life. Yet another time I might be full of questions in response to what I’ve heard God say in His word.
I pray “Jesus this is what comes to my mind as I read these words of Yours,” or “Jesus when I hear these words of Yours I just want to fall at your feet and worship You.” “Jesus I have so much pain in my heart right now. When will it end? Is it my fault?” “ Jesus help me to believe these words of Yours are for me.”
When I recently read Psalm 51 devotionally verse 4 struck my heart with conviction. Earlier this year I read and did a study in a book by Jerry Bridges called “The Pursuit of Holiness” and in his book Jerry talked about the fact that we often consider our sin as failure and our pride is offended when we should recognize that our sin is first and foremost sin against God. In light of this when I read ‘Against You, You only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight…” that truth went a little deeper into my heart and now I am more mindful that when I sin against another person I am sinning against God and I am eager to repent and receive forgiveness.
Today I read Psalm 86:1-17. I happened to be in a place where this prayer of David’s resonated with my own heart. It begins with the words, “Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy.” Sometimes I say something into my husband’s ear that I want only him to hear because I trust him with my true thoughts and feelings. This helps me to picture myself speaking what’s on my mind or heart into God’s ear. I am confident that He hears me and will respond to me.
The biggest benefit of devotional prayer for me is that it helps me to see God more clearly as He really is. Hearing God’s voice in the Scripture comforts my heart, gives me instruction and convicts me of sin without condemning me. His words guide me on my journey from earth to heaven, from this life to the next.
Praying devotionally, lingering on a passage, gives me opportunity to agree with what God says in His word. When my un-renewed and unbelieving mind is encountered by God’s word a fight begins. If the truth of God’s word conquers my unbelief I grow in faith and trust in Almighty God. “Is not My word like a fire?” Says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Thank you Lord that Your word is like a hammer that breaks through my unbelief and like a fire that sets my heart aflame with love for and trust in You.
As a Bible teacher once said, “The word of God has power to overcome the darkness of our hearts”. Thank You God!
Praying devotionally provides a safe structure for me to be really honest with God, myself, and others. The Psalms especially give me permission to lament (complain) or express exuberant joy just as David did. The Psalms provide a place for my humanity to be expressed honestly.
In a lament people don’t try to solve the problem themselves but they cry to God for help.
Psalm 13 is a good example of an honest expression of grief. Listen to verses 1-3.
“How much longer will You forget me LORD? Forever?
How much longer will You hide Yourself from me?
How long must I endure trouble?
How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night?
How long will my enemies triumph over me?
Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me.”
I am grateful that God is okay with His people, especially me, pouring out their feelings to Him particularly when they are negative. This is what I need: to be loved and accepted in my sorrow or anger. As the saying goes, “When you smile the whole world smiles with you and when you weep you weep alone.”
I’m learning to believe that God doesn’t cast me aside when I feel miserable. I am learning to say with the psalmist, “ Why are you downcast O my soul. Put your hope in God.” (Psalm 42:5)
Praying devotionally also leads me to memorization and meditation on God’s word.
Further down in Psalm 86 after David cries out to God in his desperation he recognizes a truth about God. He says: “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
This truth about God gives me glorious permission to approach Him in my pain or sin knowing I will be loved and accepted.
Devotional prayer is about having an honest conversation with God in every season of the soul and allowing His truth to triumph in my life. The Lord shepherds my heart in devotional prayer.
In summary I would say that the main benefits I receive from devotional prayer are:
Clarity about God’s character and ways and therefore I grow in trusting Him
Freedom to come as I am to Him and give expression to the thoughts of my heart
Comfort and guidance for my soul
I highly recommend praying devotionally both in the secret place and also with a small group if you can. Praying alone bonds our heart to God. Praying together bonds our heart to God and to others.
(Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash)
