I subscribe to Mrs. Pam Ianello's email devotional list. Mrs. Ianello is a pastor's wife, and she does an excellent job of ministering to ladies through her Bible studies. You can subscribe to Mrs. Ianello's devotions here.
I've been finishing up our homeschool schedule for the upcoming year and looking at all of the things I need to get done each day, and I thought Mrs. Ianello's devotion would be a good reminder that we all need a spiritual routine, too.
Rise and Shine for Jesus!
By Pam Iannello
A ministry of New Beginnings Baptist Church @ www.nbbconline.com
There are various tasks that each of us automatically carries out on a daily basis. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, running errands, caring for the children, exercising etc. are just a few of the many duties that keep us women occupied. Ladies, did you realize there are also spiritual duties that we are to carry out on a daily basis? Hopefully you have discovered what they are, but if not, it’s time we made them a part of our routine!
READING OF THE WORD
Neh. 8:18a (KJV)
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God…
The number of eight in the Bible is the number of new beginnings. How interesting to note that reading the Word of God is referred to in the eighteenth verse of this eighth chapter! As a matter of fact, this particular verse is speaking of Ezra when he read the scriptures to the great congregation. The people had not been in the habit of doing so and it brought great revival. So too, will it do the same for us as we read and heed God’s Word each new day. It has a cleansing and refreshing power that you and I need!
PERFORMING OF VOWS
Psalm 61:8 (KJV)
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Yes, we are to act according to that which we have purposed and even promised God. What things have you determined to do or not to do? Did you not appeal to the Lord seriously concerning a particular issue He was dealing with you about? Has God witnessed your sincerity in regard to the matter? Ladies, God expects us to take our pledges seriously and daily act upon them. Perhaps you have a great deal of catching up to do…
PRAYER
Psalm 88:9B (KJV)
…Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
With the various concerns that weight upon our spirits, one would think a reminder to pray daily would not be necessary! Yet, sadly, it is. Christians are far too lethargic about their conversations with the Lord. We must daily commit ourselves and our loved ones to God’s care and seek His will. Are you keeping up your communion with God, dear lady? Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire??
WATCHFULNESS
Proverbs 8:34 (KJV)
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Here the Bible stresses the importance of daily waiting upon the Lord and watching at His gates for every ounce of wisdom we might gain! God’s wisdom teaches us to avoid evil and cleave to that which is good. How strong is your desire to learn? Is it intense enough to lead you to God’s gates on a daily basis with sincere zeal? What a crime it is when we neglect to discover the very mind of Christ!
CROSS-BEARING
Luke 9:23 (KJV)
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Cross bearing is something we rarely think about doing on a daily basis. Know why? Because it entails the denial of self! Be honest, dear lady; are you really in the habit of surrendering yourself to Christ? Did you yield to Him yesterday? How about the day before that? When is the last time you took up your cross and carried it after Jesus? Are you following the Lord in everything? Or has daily obedience to God been buried in self-interest…
EXHORTATION
Hebrews 3:13 (KJV)
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
While we have time, we must daily seek to secure the pliability of our hearts and the hearts of our brethren, for eternity is just around the corner! Sin is tricky and sometimes we can’t see it for what it is. Hence, the great value of sincerely and soberly looking after one another… Giving strict attention to God and His Word is the best defense against a hardened heart. We are none of us exempt from the grave injury of resisting truth!
While these may seem like the basics of the faith, how many of us can truly say we have been faithful to carry each one of these duties out day by day? The Bible warns us that we must beware of being corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. I hope you’ll take it seriously and set up a new routine for yourself according to the basics!
Copyright 2002 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2006