Lesson Four: Building Process 1 - Deepening the Devotional Life

What is the `Devotional Life’?

It is that part of one’s life which is consciously spent in the presence of God, and wherein one intimately and exclusively relates in his spirit to God.

• Consciously – Psalm 139:7-19 vividly describes the omnipresence of God. Thus, everybody is surrounded by God’s presence at all times. However, not everybody is conscious of this all the time. Our devotional life involves the time we take to consciously acknowledge God’s presence.


• Intimately – Intimacy involves relating in total openness and acceptance. One is confident in God’s unconditional love which drives away all fears, including fear of rejection. While being confident of God’s acceptance, there can be no intimacy if there is no corresponding reverence for God’s holiness.


• Exclusively – Even though we are supposed to be doing all things as unto the Lord, the Lord wants us to set aside time in our daily life when we focus our attention on God alone. Jesus demonstrated the necessity of seeking exclusive communion with the Father, away from all earthly demands or concerns.

Two aspects of the devotional life

1. Corporate - spent with the other believers


2. Personal - between you and God alone

Note: A healthy devotional life keeps a balance of both.

The Personal Devotional Life

Certain intended activities can be see in the example of the Psalmists in Psalm 27:4, Psalm 63:6, Psalm 5:3 and 16:7. They include meditating on God’s Word, watching & praying, and seeking God’s counsel.

Meditation has been defined by J. I. Packer as: “the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God. It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, as a means of communion with God. Its purpose is to clear one’s mental and spiritual vision of God, and to let his truth make its full and proper impact on one’s mind and heart.” (Knowing God, pp. 18-19)

Some expected benefits and experiences from spending time with God include wisdom/enlightenment (knowledge of God), joy/pleasure, and satisfaction.