Beyond Devotion

Our desire with Abiding Daily is that you would move beyond reading words on a screen each morning into following a lifestyle of walking with God. The question then becomes, how do we move past mere devotion, past occasional check-ins with God, into full-on abiding?

The answer is not straightforward. God is spirit, so he is unseen, yet we perceive his movements like we perceive the blowing of the wind. We do not know where it comes from or where it is going, but we experience it. That is what Jesus said in John 3.

I shy away from dictating to you what kind of encounter you should expect each time you read the Daily Invitation. The truth is that many of us will read today’s prompt and experience very little, yet it will still be an important moment in our journey.

We called this part of the ministry the Daily Invitation because God has an invitation for us every single day. He is calling us to himself in unique ways. All the various people who participate in our devotion are different, and God will have particular things to emphasize to each of us every morning. That is the beauty of his ways. He fine-tunes each moment to disciple us and grow us up in love.

For those wondering how to press beyond the pixels in your phone screen or computer into more intimacy with God, the answer is simple. Desperation for God leads to encounter.

I think it is expressed best in Psalms 42:1-2 ESV, where it says, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

There is no question that God is desirable, but our alignment with that reality is often in question. Do I really desire God today? Or am I desiring other things… wealth, fame, pleasures, control, power… these desires challenge our desire for the Lord.

Ironically, the best way to respond to God’s invitation is often through another invitation and a confession.

God, I want to desire you, but my heart needs transformation. Will you show me how to desire you? Will you open my eyes, heal my heart, and restore my soul? I need you today.

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  Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.

• Order a copy of Abiding Daily: Volume One – Our first devotional book.

  Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.