Single-Minded Devotion to God

“For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.” PSALM 51:3-4

 

PONDER THIS

What does it mean to be one after God's own heart? It’s a person with integrity. The word pure means integrity. It means single-mindedness. But didn't David sin? Yes, David sinned horribly. He failed God. David may have had a sinful heart, but he always had a single heart. When David sinned, it broke David's heart as well as it broke God's heart, and David didn’t offer an alibi. David offered a confession. Do you have that kind of integrity?

Many young preachers come to me and ask me, "Pastor Rogers, give me some advice. What would you say I need in the ministry?" Do you know what I tell them? Integrity. Have a heart that is turned toward God devotedly. Live for Him solely. Blessed are the pure in heart. It is those who are single-minded, not double-souled, who love God with all of their hearts. Even in the moments we fail, we can live with integrity; instead of making excuses, we can repent and turn to God’s direction.

When in your life have you lived completely devoted to God? Is that how you live now?

What are some of the things that take your attention from God? How can you focus on God instead?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of things distracting you from living with devotion to God, then bring those things to Him in prayer.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Godly Parenting Starts with Surrender

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” PSALM 112:1-2

 

PONDER THIS

When my first son was born and I first laid eyes on him, something changed in my heart. I thought, “Oh, God, I am a daddy, and I’ve got a son to raise!” Joyce and I were going through college, and we were living in a little twenty-five-foot house trailer. I went home, sat on that flowered couch in that little house trailer, and then got on my knees. I said, “Oh God, if I never do anything else, I want to be a godly daddy.” I said, “God, I give You my son, and I give You myself.” And I have claimed the promise of today’s verse many times.

Don’t you want your children to be mighty on this earth for God? Don’t you want your generation to be blessed? It is a joy, a privilege, and a responsibility to raise your children for God. But you must have this vision first, you must surrender first, and they will learn from seeing how you live.

What does it look like to devote something to God? How does that change the way you treat that thing?

Who is someone devoted to God who impacted you? What was different about that person’s life?

PRACTICE THIS

Consider what needs to change for you to live your life devoted to God, then take that next step of faith.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Fully Devoted to God?

“And Ahab had said to Obadiah, ‘Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.’ So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.” 1 KINGS 18:5-6

 

PONDER THIS

Obadiah loved the Lord, but he had a struggle that many of us share: He was a compromiser. He was looking for grass when he should have been praying for rain. He was trying to prop things up. He was trying to get by without repentance. Now we think we can bring revival with programs and personality. But as long as you are a compromiser, you can’t bring revival, no matter how hard you try.

Examine your heart and consider how you may be a compromiser. Was there ever a time when you loved Jesus more than you love Him now? Do you remember when you first found Christ? Do you remember when you first got saved and how your heart was filled with joy that your sins were forgiven? After a while, so many believers lose that joy. Do you remember when you had power in prayer, and you could point to definite, specific times that your prayer was answered? But maybe now your prayer life is pitiful and weak. Do you remember when your testimony had a ring of truth about it, and others saw your life, and they started asking what was different about you? Are you a compromiser? We cannot live as people of compromise. We are called to be fully devoted to our God.

What are some ways you have been a compromiser?

Why is it important to be fully devoted to God?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to a person who is strong in the faith and ask how that person goes about navigating life without compromise.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers