Hey everyone! 

We’ve been in Africa for a week now and it’s been so amazing! I’ll write a blog soon and hopefully post it sometime next week about ministry. 

Just wanted to share this for now though! This week, I got to teach the squad about my devotional time that I do every morning with the Lord. And I wanted to share it with you all too!

Devotion Teaching. 9.17.19

(30-35 minute devotional, but make it as long or short as you would like)

Ask Him what He wants you to call Him today, this week or in this season. 

I start by journaling. I say good morning to God. I use papa/abba/Jesus/friend/comforter/Holy Spirit/prince of peace/etc. depending on what season I’m in. It’s like having nicknames, it’s a powerful way to connect with someone you know. 3 mins 

I start journaling about things that are on my heart or mind.

I talk to God about what I’m feeling. I thank Him for what I’m feeling. Sometimes it’s getting all the grumbling out of the way. Sometimes it’s just saying what’s hard. Sometimes it’s a whole list of thankfulness and praises. It’s just me getting my thoughts out so I’m not stuck in them throughout the day, but ultimately it’s so I can have open hands to God and what He has. 7 mins. 

I let God speak into my life.

This is HUGE because He is Truth and sees the Truth and gives me His eyes for things. He gives me Truth to speak over myself and declare. He’ll speak to what is actually going on in a situation and helps me when I’m being dramatic. He always says or shows me something that brings peace, love, joy, comfort, etc. because that’s just who He is. If I’m not sure that it’s God’s voice, I still write it down and check it with scripture. Or sometimes I’ll just keep in written down and look through journals from time to time. It blows my mind when I see that something I was unsure the Lord said actually comes to fruition later on. 5 mins. 

Ask the Lord where He wants to take you in scripture today. 

(A couple days ago He took me to 1 Peter 2 which was cool because the next day, the Pastor read the verse in that same chapter that had really caught my attention.) 

If you don’t feel like you’re hearing a specific place He wants you to go, that’s totally okay. God is way bigger than just our ability to listen. He will use anything and everything. The Bible is ALL His word anyways. It will all bring about goodness. His word never comes back void. Just flip to any page and start reading. Ask God what He wants to reveal to you. I write down notes from these verses sometimes. 10-15 mins. 

Ask Him who He wants you to intercede for in your life (at home). 

Often times for me, it’s the very first person who pops into my mind. Sometimes it’s expected and sometimes it’s really surprising. 

Practice listening as you’re praying. Praying is joining in on the things God is already doing. Sometimes we’re intimidated by not knowing what to pray, but God already knows the words you will pray before you even think them.Pray WITH Him. Talk with Him. God sometimes even has this crazy way of letting us know where people are at even without talking to them and having WiFi. It’s an amazing thing. 5 mins. 

-Elena