Stop and ask yourself, How do I approach God’s Word? Do I invite my Teacher to teach me? Do I read into it or receive from it? Now, ask the Spirit, “What can I do differently to see the Word come alive and become a part of my nature?” Write what He reveals and put it into practice.

Is devotional time the only time the Spirit teaches? No. He is teaching all the time, and if you’re in tune with Him, there is a lesson to learn at every turn. Frangipane suggests:

“…Carry a pad and pen with you at all times. …We are called to abide in Him, not just visit with Him. …You must develop such a listening ear that the Spirit could speak to you anywhere about anything. Honor Him and He will honor you.”2

This could look differently for every person. Use whatever medium or technology works best for you. The important point is that you listen and remember what He speaks.

Carefully meditate on these verses. What is the Spirit revealing about the Word in your life?

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:12-21

Deuteronomy 6:6; 11:18; Psalm 119:9-11; Colossians 3:16

Psalm 19:8; 119:105, 130; Proverbs 4:20-23; 6:20-23

Hebrews 4:12; James 1:21; Jeremiah 23:28-29

“Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”

—Jeremiah 33:3 The Message

Day 2 Devo

PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO HIM AS LORD

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: …The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’”

—Mark 12:29-30 NLT

The Lord, who is the Spirit, loves us passionately and wants our love exclusively. He does not want our affection and attention attached to the world or anything in it. He says:

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

—1 John 2:15-17 The Message

Check out these related scriptures: Matthew 16:24-26; Titus 2:12-14; James 4:4-6; John 15:18-21; Romans 12:2.

WHERE DOES YOUR ALLEGIANCE LIE? Take an honest inventory. Ask yourself:

Who or what gets the majority of my time and attention? What do I spend my free time doing?

Who or what excites me? Are technology and fashion trends in their proper places in my life?

What kinds of things do I spend my money on?

What’s on my mind most? What do I frequently talk about? What subjects permeate my prayers?

Our words reveal our allegiances. Jesus said that what our hearts are full of is what spills out of our mouths (see Luke 6:45).