Who/What Are You Devoted To?

WHAT is devotion?

When I listen to the song below, I'm reminded that often we are taught that devotion is a part of falling in love.  I am a 70's girl, so the first thing that came to mind when I thought about the word, "devoted" was the song by Olivia Newton John. (Were any of you fans of the movie, Grease, like I was?)

 
In this world, we are bombarded by so many temporary and materialistic things  We are encouraged to admire movie stars and athletes and elevate them to a status of extreme honor and adoration.  We become devoted to political parties, ideologies, causes, and even cars.   Some of it is good, but much of it is not.  Good examples of devotion can be found in the love of a mother for her children and of a father for his family.  Bad examples can be found in extreme devotion to things, like cars, houses, appearance, money, and possessions.  It is in our nature to become obsessed with things.

But God calls us to be devoted only to Him.
Exodus 20:3 -  You shall have no other gods before me. 
Luke 14:33 - In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples...

To be DEVOTED to God...is to be zealous – enthusiastic - ardent – fervent - passionate in attachment, loyalty, or affection to GOD.   (source)

When you look at your own heart and look for what is most important to you, what you devote the most time to, what do you find?  To what are you most devoted?  

When I look inward, I become a bit uncomfortable.  Though there are things that require greater amounts of time than worship and adoration to God (i.e., work, sleep), what is most critical?  What is most important?  I find that sometimes that the thing I feel most intensely devoted to isn't the Lord.

It is very easy to get out of sync regarding the Christian walk.  It is easy, very easy, to become devoted to something so much that it infringes on one's relationship with Christ.  When we realize that, we must take a step back, reassess what is most important to us, and once again look to the cross of Christ where His love and patience abound.

 "Your greatest single difficulty in following God may come at this point of full surrender."  from Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Revised and Expanded

Thankfully, being devoted to God doesn't mean we have to chance being hurt or get pushed aside by the One we are devoted to. It doesn't mean we are "hopeless". In fact, when we devote our lives to the Lord, we have the good news that our labors and sacrifices are not in vain. 

All who are devoted to God will readily and frequently experience God's promises

Psalms 91:14-16 CEB

God says,

"Because you are devoted to me,

I’ll rescue you.

I’ll protect you

because you know my name.

Whenever you cry out to me,

I’ll answer.

I’ll be with you in troubling times.

I’ll save you and glorify you.

I’ll fill you full with old age.

I’ll show you my salvation."

These verses tell us that we can expect supernatural rescue, protection, hearing, responding, presence, glory, continuous salvation from now until we are filled with old age. 

•  God has promised to reward us, if we believe and seek  Him. "Anyone who comes to Him [God] must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him" Hebrews 11:6
•  Mark 10:29–30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."
•  We will be in the presence of God, and we will be happier than we have ever been. Isaiah 35:10
  "and those the Lord has rescued will return.
  They will enter Zion with singing;
  everlasting joy will crown their heads.
  Gladness and joy will overtake them,
      and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
• 1 Peter 1:3-9 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."    source

As you can see, being devoted has SO many benefits!

Jesus, I pray that my heart will be deeply devoted to the One from whom all blessings flow. I pray that by the grace of God my devotion would please You alone and that I may inspire others to do the same.

Continuing to give thanks, listing the many gifts from the Lord! Linking over at  "Multitude on Mondays".

1,613 - Knowing that our reward is found, as we walk with Jesus through this life and find joy, in having a relationship with Him! 
1,614 - Knowing that there is hope for eternal reward in being fully devoted to the Lord! 
1,615 - Spending Valentine's Day with my hubby!
1,616 - Shopping and bargain-hunting in a local Amish town...finding a beautiful quilt for our extra bedroom.(I'll be sharing a photo of it soon! :)
1,617 - Eating a homemade Amish dinner at a favorite restaurant. 
1,618 - Getting to go to see our grandson play basketball on his high school team. 
1,619 - Finally being able to attend church again...weather conditions stopped us from going the past few weeks. 
1,620 - The Lord protecting me, guiding my car, and letting me get home from work safely today...another snowstorm hit our area!

Linking over to these blog hops:

Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday
Sunday Stillness (He Cares For You)
Weekend Brew (My Freshly Brewed Life) 
 Soli Deo Gloria Party (Finding Heaven)
 Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)
Titus2sdays (Time-Warp Wife)
UNITE (Rich Faith Rising)
 Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk in His Grace) 
 Word-Filled Wednesday (Woman to Woman)  
  Tell Me a True Story Blog Hop
 Faith Filled Friday (Missional Women)