I. Introduction:
A. Do prayer and the reading of the Scriptures occupy an important place in our lives as young Christians?
1. Are we accustomed to do these things in family devotions, at school, in the Church, at Bible study societies?
2. Is it wrong that we are accustomed to pray and read the Scriptures in all of these various places and at all of these various times?
3. Is there a danger that prayer and Scripture study become ONLY a custom? Do we take these many opportunities for granted very often?
B. Besides all of the opportunities for prayer and the reading and study of the Scriptures with others, are private devotions necessary?
1. Do we have private devotions every day? If not every day, why not every day? How often do we have them?
2. Do the Scriptures in any way lay upon us the obligation for regular private devotions?
3. Ought we to be in the habit of setting aside a portion of each day, and in seclusion having
4 . How do the Scriptures imply that we ought to have regular private devotions? From what Scripture passages may we deduce this practice?
A. Are there Scripture passages, first of all, which urge prayer upon the child of God?
1 Look up and consider: Luke 18:1; 21:36; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; I Thes. 5:17, 18; I Tim. 2:8.
2. If the clear teaching of Scripture is that the child of God must be always, continually in prayer, is it not reasonable to conclude that we ought also to pray privately?
3. What other passages can you find in Scripture which emphasize our calling to pray?
B. Secondly, are there Scripture passages which urge Bible reading and study upon the child of God?
1. Look up and consider: Deut. 6:6, 7; Ps. 119:97, 98; Is. 34:16; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; II Tim. 2:15.
2. If the clear injunction of Scripture is that we must always be studying, reading, and searching the Scriptures, is it not reasonable to conclude from this that we ought also to be doing this privately, as individuals ?
3. What other passages of Scripture can you find which emphasize our calling to read and study God’s Word?
C. Thirdly, are there Scriptural examples and passages which rather clearly teach the duty of private, personal devotions?
1. Does Jesus leave us an example in this regard? Cf. Luke 6:12 and Matt. 14:23.
a. Why would the sinless Son of God find private devotions necessary?
b. Is there an even greater necessity for private devotions in our lives?
2. What does Dan. 6:10 teach concerning Daniel?
a. Did Daniel have private devotions?
b. Is there any indication in this text that Daniel was in the habit of having private devotions?
3. What does Jesus teach concerning private devotions in Matt. 6:5, 6?
4. Do the following passages say anything about private devotions: Ps. 55:17; 63:6; Is. 38:2, 3; 26:9; Acts 10:9; Gen. 4:26?
II. Granted that God in His Word requires private devotions of the child of God, what is to be the nature of these private devotions? In what are they to consist?
A. In the first place, these are to be private “devotions”.
1. What is the meaning of the word “devotion”? Why speak of private “devotions”?
a. Does the word “devotion” imply “love”?
b. For whom would this love be?
c. Why and how is love for God the foundation for private devotions?
2. But private devotions imply more than the love of God in our hearts; implied also is that love of the heart comes to concrete expression in worship of God.
a. Are our private devotions an act of the worship of God?
b. How are our private devotions an act of the worship of God?
c. What does Heidelberg Catechism, Q.A. 94 teach concerning the worship of God that applies to private devotions?
3. Specifically, these devotions will consist primarily of prayer and Scripture reading and meditation.
a. Do we know the requirements of true prayer? Cf. Heidelberg Catechism, Q.A. 117.
b. Do we know why we ought to pray? What elements belong to true prayer; for what ought we to pray?
c. Why should we read and study God’s Word? Is it only a question of benefit for ourselves?
d. What do the Scriptures mean by “meditation”?
B. Secondly, it is to be emphasized that these devotions are “private” devotions.
1. Why are “private” devotions necessary besides family devotions and the study of God’s Word and prayer in the Church, societies, and school?
a. Are there personal sins for which we need to pray for forgiveness and the grace of the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to resist?
b. Are there personal needs which we have which we as individuals ought to be bringing to God’s throne of grace?
c. Are there personal reasons for thanksgiving to God?
2. Is there, nevertheless, a relationship between private devotions and the other times and opportunities for prayer and the study of God’s Word?
a. Is it conceivable, for example, that someone will neglect participation in family devotions and yet be faithful in private devotions?
b. Are family devotions, the worship of God in Church etc. preparation for private devotions and training grounds for private devotions?
III. Some practical considerations for conducting our private devotions.
A. Ought there to be freedom and flexibility in carrying on private devotions? Why or why not?
1. Do the circumstances in each person’s life make a difference?
2. Is one time of day or one particular method more suitable to one individual than to another?
B. Though we ought to avoid laying down hard and fast rules, there are certainly some practical considerations which we ought to take into account in private devotions.
1. Is it important that a certain time and a certain place each day be set aside for private devotions?
2. Should we be reading the Bible itself for our devotions, or are the writings of good Christian and Reformed authors also to be read?
3. Of what use can a concordance and Bible dictionary be made in our private devotions? What are these reference tools and should a young person invest in them?
4. In our Bible reading for our private devotions, should we stick to the King James Version of the Bible? Why or why not?
5. Are there ways in which we might improve our own private devotions?
6. How much time should we give to these private devotions? Should we set aside more time than we do for these devotions?