Victory in the Spiritual Life

Victory in the Spiritual Life By Bobby Moore       Once you make a commitment to spend time with God regularly in Scripture reading and prayer, you will likely face a variety of obstacles and frustrations. At least that has been my experience, and I don't think I'm alone in it.       I want to share with you seven of the obstacles I have encountered in my devotional life, along with some of the ways I have overcome these obstacles.       Lack of Discipline       Since coming to recognize the importance of having a daily devotional life and establishing one for myself, I have asked hundreds of Christians about their own devotional lives. A large percentage of those I have talked to said they did not have a consistent devotional life. It saddens me to see how many Christians are negligent and disobedient in this vital area. But I can understand it, because I was once the same way myself.       How did I overcome my lack of discipline in the vital matter of my personal devotional life? Simply by recognizing the importance of what I was overlooking. Of course, this insight is hardly original with me. Joseph Parker said, "If I really love my Savior, nothing will stand in my way of a personal meeting with God every morning." Oswald Chambers said, "It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the trouble to spend time with God. Spend plenty of time with Him; let other things go, but don't neglect Him."       Once I recognized the importance of the personal devotional life, I made the choice to discipline myself and give priority to starting and continuing daily devotions. Soon I was experiencing God in a more intimate manner in my devotional times.       Lack of Concentration       I have found that, when I have difficulty keeping my mind and heart focused on the Lord during my devotional time, one of several actions will help me.       I personalize the promises of God. For instance, I personalize Philippians 4:5: "The Lord is at hand." I repent of my lack of concentration and focus on the Lord's promised presence with me. Or I personalize Isaiah 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." I ask the Lord to give me the ability to keep my mind from wandering and to keep it fixed on Him. Or I personalize 2 Corinthians 10:5. I ask the Lord to enable me to "[bring] into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."       I speak aloud. Oswald Smith shared that wandering thoughts in his personal devotional life often plagued him. He got rid of the wandering thoughts by reading God's Word aloud and praying aloud. That same strategy has often worked for me, too.       I make a list. I remember hearing Del Fehsenfeld Jr. share that he kept a piece of paper and a pen next to him during his quiet time. As his mind would drift to things he needed to do that day, he would jot them down and then refocus on God. At the end of his devotional time with God, he would ask God to prioritize the list and organize his schedule for the day.       I ask God for help. Dr. Stephen Olford advised me to communicate with the Lord when my mind and heart are wandering. He counseled me to ask the Lord these questions: Lord, what are You saying to me? Is there a promise for me to claim? Is there an example I am to follow? Is there some sin I am to avoid? Is there a command for me to obey? Is there any new thought about God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit I am to have? Is there a new thought about Satan? "Never leave a passage," Dr. Olford said, "until you can write down what God is saying to you in order that you can pray it back to God."