Does God really require us to do daily devotions?

I used to ask myself that question, “does God really require me to do daily devotions.” Now let me throw a curve ball at you here. If you have asked this question or are asking this question because secretly you hope the answer is no then you need to examine your relationship with God, your motivation in spending time with God at all and your priorities.

I asked this question because I know that there are a lot of people with good intentions who when they miss doing daily devotions they are overcome with guilt. Journey with me then through a few thoughts as we take a look at this question.

Let’s define ‘doing devotions’ simply as spending alone time (quiet time) with God in prayer and in His Word. So the real question then becomes, ‘are we expected by God to spend alone time with Him each day.’ To answer that question let us first take a look at what Jesus and the apostles did relative to that question. We often find Jesus slipping away to get alone for prayer (Matt 14:23, Mk14:32-35, Lk 6:12.) These times when Jesus went off by himself must be important because the apostles took note of it and wrote about it. Later we also find the apostles doing the exact same thing. The most memorable scripture that comes to my mind is when we find peter sitting on the top of his house praying (Acts 10:9-18).

So what we discover is that quiet time spent alone with God is definitely important. However, what we don’t discover is a definitive answer to our questions. After all there really is no way of knowing if Jesus went off to be alone every day. Let’s go a different route now and look at what our motivations are in spending time alone with God daily. Do we do try and do this to appease God, to keep from feeling guilty, out of a commitment to Him, because we enjoy spending time with Him or Do we not even try to do this because it seems too overwhelming? Is there another reason or motivation that you have?

Depending on what your motivations are, the actual question of ‘does God require us to daily spend time with Him’ becomes less important. For instance, I do my best to spend daily time with God in prayer and in the Word because I desire intimacy with God and I also want to be perfected into the image of Jesus Christ. This being my motivation, I tend to care less about trying to figure out if God requires me to do it because I already desire to do it. Another thing to think of in answering our question is what does God desire? Does God really want us to spend time with Him and why? Well the key here is to note that God wants your devotion to Him, not just your devotions with Him. It is kind of like the concept of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. God actually in this case required them but later He says, "To obey is better than to sacrifice." The idea here is that God wanted people to sacrifice because they loved, respected and honored Him. What good is it if someone gave to you a gift only because you made them? So God first of and more importantly wants you to come to Him with a right heart. For some of you, at this point in your journey with God, it may mean coming to him out of a commitment to Him or out of trying to do what it right.

So, after examine these few thoughts we still are left with our original question, "does God require us to spend daily time with Him." I think we all know the answer really is NO. God doesn't require daily devotions, but He does desire our devotion and love. What this means is that if we really are devoted to Him, we will seek to spend regular time with Him as often as we can. When you love God and are truly committed to Him, spending time with Him regularly will be a top priority.

If you are one His children who miss a day of focused and alone time spent with Him, I am doubting God wants you to languish in guilt. It is better to put it behind you, tell God sorry if you really mean it and then pick up where you left off in your regular time with Him. I know that I have often prayed for steadfastness and discipline to spend time with Him knowing that my flesh will fight against. Let's be honest, there will be times for all of us when spending time with God will be hard because are flesh doesn't want to. Yet, it is in those times, that when we overcome and bow the knee, that we are richly blessed and rewarded.

2 Tim 2:11-13
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,we will also live with him; 12 if we endure ,we will also reign with him.If we disown him,he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless,he will remain faithful,for he cannot disown himself.

2 Tim 2:3-7Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.