Dale Matson
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A daily devotional
is the single most important thing that can be done by a Christian as the first
act of the day, on an ongoing basis. A dentist may disagree with this but teeth
are temporal and a soul is eternal. Using a devotional is like a swimmer in a
pool, taking a deep cleansing breath as she turns at the end of the lap. I have
begun my day with a devotional reading, followed by journaling every day for
nearly twenty years. Starting daily in
this way is a statement of priorities.
All time spent with God is not taken from the day before us. It is time
returned tenfold. It is saying above all, that you are dedicated to a
relationship with God and committed to maintaining and deepening that
relationship.
When an individual
begins a devotional using Scripture including prayer, that person is not just
connecting with the Word of God. That person is not alone but is a participant in the Body of Christ, the
universal church forever celebrating the Glory of God. The person is connected
to the true vine Jesus Christ where he is not just transfused but transformed.
Individuals are reuniting with their ancestors and the saints who have preceded
them on this earth.
In beginning each
day with a devotional there is a sense of focus,
meaning, pace and purpose. Why am I here? What really matters? Can I make a
difference? It is a time of peace in a world of chaos. It is portable and when
we travel we can take the devotional with us. It is a matter of being in the
moment. It is living in the real world that has no boundaries not a virtual
world where others exist in a few lines of a text message on a small screen and
quickly are ignored or dismissed.
The Christian life
is intended to be directed, have meaning, and be empowered by God the Holy
Spirit. It is a life intended by our Creator to include reflection,
self-examination and service to others. When we leave our worship service,, we
are dismissed by the Deacon with the charge, “Go in peace to love and serve the
Lord.” Our response is, “Thanks be to God.”
Commitment to a
daily devotional introduces discipline into a life that would profit from
discipline when it is absent or increased discipline when it is needed. The
devotional can become a safe and familiar harbor from which each day’s journey
begins.
Finally, the devotional
sets the tone for our entire day. The devotional is done intentionally,
consciously and directed to God. It is a good work that affects the entire
cosmos. It becomes incense, carried with us throughout the day, anointing with
its fragrance the ordinary secular daily acts and makes them sacred. It is not
time spent alone but in solitude. This is a frightening idea for some, since
much of their bustle and distractedness is an attempt to avoid the reality that
surrounds them on all sides.
So, Fr. Dale, you
have said why a devotional is important. Why did you write a devotional? This
is my answer.
“Who comforts us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Cor.
1:14)
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