The Carpenter Series
101 - Building Your Faith
Lesson 5 - Devotional Life
Building Our Lives to be More Like Jesus
And He was:
•
Connected to God
•
Connected to People and
•
Connected to His Calling
and so should we.
We are committed to help you learn the ____________, as well as experience an
______________ relationship with Jesus.
Psalm 73:28a (Living) But as for me, I get as close to Him as I can!
Hosea 6:6 (Living) “I don’t want your sacrifices– I want your love; I don’t want your offerings–I want you to know
me.”
Psalm 139:17-18 (Living) How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! 18I can’t
even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still
thinking of me!
Let Jesus Know _________
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
knew = ginosko, Strong’s G1097 be aware, feel, perceive, speak, understand
To know experientially. Jesus isn’t saying that they never knew __________ in that way.
He’s saying “I never knew ________.”
Luke 13:27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of
iniquity.’
Matthew 25:1-13 ...11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12But he answered and
said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’...
2 Timothy 2:19
Except where noted, the Scriptures are from the New King Jam es Verson.
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
1
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Four Keys to Building Your Devotional Life
1.
Read the ___________ (The Bible).
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and
night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Matthew 22:29 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the
power of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
Deuteronomy 8:3b Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of the Lord.
How to Read the Word
1) ____________ Jesus to speak to you from the Word.
Amos 4:13a For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, Who declares to man what his
thought is.
2) Meditate on the Word.
Psalm 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
3) ________________ the verse.
4) Use other __________ aids.
(1) Bible Reading Schedule
(2) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
(3) Topical Concordances
(4) Bible Dictionaries
(5) Commentaries
(6) Study Bibles
(7) Devotionals
(8) Computer Software
(9) Bible Websites (www.livingfaithfellowship.com, www.e-sword.net, www.biblegateway.com,
www.crosswalk.org, www.blueletterbible.org, www.youversion.com)
(10)
Bible classes
1. New Covenant Christian Foundation (Bible Foundations 1) is an
overview of the Bible
2. Founded on the Rock (Bible Foundations 2) Six foundation stones in
Hebrews 6
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
2
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
3.
4.
5.
6.
2.
Survey of the Old Testament (Bible Foundations 3)
Survey of the New Testament (Bible Foundations 4)
MIRROR 1
MIRROR 2
Pray
1) Prayer is _______________ communion.
Prayer is a _______________, not a monologue.
Make Jesus your ________ ___________, talk to Him face to face – express your
thoughts to Him.
Prayer is a ______-way communication.
Christianity is not a religion, it’s a ____________________.
(1) Write or Journal (_______________ ________________)
Spiritual Notebooks are one of the finest tools to be able to pour your heart out
to Jesus, and to ______________ what you believe He is saying to you.
Materials Needed:
1. A special place
2. ___________________
3. Bible
4. Your spiritual notebook/computer
5. 4-color pen / 2-color pen
6. Highlighter
7. A strong determination to _______________ with your own indifference
8. Eyes of faith and ears for hearing
9. A heart that is _______________ to the Holy Spirit
Often the main thing that keeps people from God is their negative attitude
about _____________________ — the shame and guilt which keeps them
bound in prison. But, you are God’s friend because of what Jesus did for you.
_____________ to the positive, powerful, and loving things Jesus wants to say
to you.
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
3
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Psalm 139:17-18 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with
You.
18
(2) ____________ with God.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 6:9b Noah walked with God.
Your devotion to Him grows as you spend ___________ with Him.
2) Examples of prayer:
(1) ____________
Mark 1:35
(2) The early church
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers.
3) How to pray
(1) ______________ in Him.
John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall
be done for you.
Matthew 6:6
(2) To the Father, in ___________ name
John 14:13-14 And whatsoever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
(3) In __________, according to His will
Mark 11:24; James 1:6a
1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His
will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we have asked of Him.
Luke 22:42
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
4
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
(4) In ______________________ and sincerity to God
1 Peter 3:12a
(5) In unity with and _________________ one another
Matthew 18:19-20
Mark 11:25-26 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26But if you do not forgive, neither
will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Bitterness and unforgiveness are like drinking a bottle of poison and waiting for
the other person to die.
(6) With perseverance, fervency, and earnest zeal
Luke 11:9-10 (Amplified) So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking, and it shall be given you; seek
and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door shall be opened
to you. 10For every one who asks and keeps on asking receives, and he who seeks and keeps on
seeking finds, and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking the door shall be opened.
James 5:16b
(7) In marital harmony
1 Peter 3:7
(8) According to the guidelines found in the Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver
us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
10
4) Things for which we should pray include:
• all men (people), especially governmental leaders – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
• ministry or leadership – Colossians 4:2-4
• each other – Ephesians 6:18
• wisdom – James 1:5
• relief from suffering – James 5:13
• healing – James 5:14-15
• sanctification and blessing of food – 1 Timothy 4:4-5
• to release God to action – Acts 4:31
• spiritual warfare — victory over demons – Mark 9:25-29; 2 Corinthians 10:4;
Ephesians 6:12,18a
• personal strengthening – Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:4a, 14-15; Jude 1:20
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
5
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
3.
Fast
1) Fasting is abstaining from food and drink for a time during which one gives himself
more fully to ______________ God.
2) Fasting is a ________________ for today.
Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:2-3, 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5, 11:27
3) Three kinds of fasts
(1) The _____________ fast — from all food and drink except water
Matthew 4:2 and when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
(2) The _____________ fast — from certain types of food, or restricting the
amount of food and drink
Daniel 10:3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at
all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
(3) The ____________ fast — from all food and liquid
Moses 40 days – Exodus 34:28
Esther 3 days – Esther 4:16
Paul 3 days – Acts 9:9
4) The proper motivation for fasting is to ________ God.
It is _______ for weight control. You substitute ____________ for food for effective
spiritual results.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
5) The purposes of fasting
(1) To give yourself more fully, and be more __________________, to Jesus
Zechariah 7:5b; Acts 13:2
(2) To cleanse and chasten the _________
Psalm 35:13b, 138:6; James 4:6
Psalm 69:10a When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,...
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
6
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
(3) To have more effective prayers
Ezra 8:23
(4) For effective spiritual warfare
Matthew 17:21
4.
Worship
1) Worship is the ________________, adoration, respect, honor, ________________,
and magnification of God by His people.
2) God is seeking ___________________.
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in
spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship
Him must worship in spirit and truth.
3) Worship ____________ God.
Psalm 69:30-31
Psalm 22:3 (KJV) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4) Offer your worship with biblical reverence.
In worship, there is variety from very loud and active to very soft and tranquil, but
God loves it all and wants it all.
5) Biblical expressions in worship
(1) ____________ expressions: singing, audibly praising, shouting
Psalm 66:2; Revelation 19:6
Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
(2) Lifting and clapping hands
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath
and doubting.
Psalm 47:1a
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
7
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
(3) Musical Instruments
Psalm 150:3-5 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise
Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5Praise Him with
loud cymbals; praise Him with high sounding cymbals!
(4) _________________ expressions: standing, bowing, kneeling, being prostrate,
falling under the Spirit’s power
Psalm 134:1
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Luke 17:15-16a Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice
glorified God, 16and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.
(5) _________________ before the Lord and spinning about
Psalm 149:3a Let them praise His name with the dance.
2 Samuel 6:14a Then David danced before the Lord with all his might.
2 Samuel 6:16 Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter,
looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she
despised him in her heart.
Don’t get critical of someone else’s expression of worship to God.
2 Samuel 6:20-23; Psalm 89:16a; Luke 10:21a; Acts 13:22
(6) Offering tithes — extravagant giving
Deuteronomy 12:5-6; Matthew 26:6-13; Luke 21:1-4
Worship is eternal – we will be doing it forever in heaven.
Revelation 4:9-11
Worship gets your eyes off of ________________, your temptations, and life’s
situations, and onto ____________ so you can see Him and His provision for you.
When we read the Word, pray, fast, and worship, we become more ________________ to,
more perceptive of, more _____________ of His presence.
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
8
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Dictionaries of the Hebrew and Greek Words
Dr. James Strong (1822-1894), a professor of exegetical theology at Drew Theological Seminary, spent more
than thirty-five years preparing his landmark concordance. First published in 1890 with the help of more than
one hundred colleagues, Strong’s remains the definitive concordance compiled on the King James Version of
the Bible.
The Strong’s Concordance is a practical tool for studying Scripture because:
1.
It helps you locate any verse in Scripture if you can remember only one or more words from that verse.
Remember times when you could think of a Bible verse, or part of a Bible verse, but you just couldn’t
remember where it was in the Bible? This is one of the most common reasons why people use a
concordance.
Example: You remember a verse that says something about all things are possible with God. Look up
one of those words in the concordance; for instance, the word “possible.” It lists 15 verses in which the
word “possible” is found. The first entry says, “but with God all things are possible” ~ you found it!
Matthew 19:26
2.
It helps you understand the Hebrew or Greek meaning of any word in Scripture.
Since the Bible was originally written in languages other than English (Hebrew for the Old Testament
and Greek for the New Testament), it is helpful to do a word study which may give further
understanding of a word as defined by the Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (located in the back section
of the Strong’s Concordance).
Example: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Let’s look up the word “believeth.” We find that word used in John 3:16 is the Strong’s Greek dictionary
number 4100. (Italicized numbers indicate Greek words in the NT; non-italicized numbers indicate
Hebrew words in the OT.) So in this case, go to the Greek dictionary at the back of Strong’s and find
the number 4100.
4100 pisteuo; from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., to credit; by
impl. to entrust (espec. one’s spiritual well-being to Christ): -believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust
with.
We are not only to believe in Jesus but also to have faith in Him and put our trust in Him.
Other benefits of using the Strong’s Concordance
1.
You can study topics in the Bible by looking up other verses in which a particular word is used.
2.
You can find other verses in the Bible where a particular Hebrew or Greek word is used but not
necessarily translated the same in each verse.
3.
Some in-depth word studies and lexicons (dictionaries of ancient languages) are keyed to Strong’s
numbering system so that you can do extensive research on any given word.
Note: You can find further directions and explanations for the Strong’s Concordance in the preface of the
Concordance and the preface of the Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
9
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
Scriptural Promises to Reckon On
I am the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).
I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
I am set free (John 8:31-33).
I am His disciple because I have His love for others (John 13:34,35).
I am protected by the power of His name (John 17:11).
I am filled with joy (John 17:13).
I am kept from the evil one (John 17:15).
I am one with God the Father and Jesus the Son (John 17:23).
I am God’s gift to Christ (John 17:24).
I am a saint (Romans 1:7).
I am made right in God’s sight by faith (Romans 5:1).
I am at peace with God (Romans 5:1).
I am in the place of highest privilege (Romans 5:2).
I am confidently and joyfully looking forward to becoming all God has in mind for me
(Romans 5:2).
I am rejoicing in troubles, because through them, God is building me up and making me
strong (Romans 5:3-5).
I am justified, and there is “much more” available to me (Romans 5:9).
I am reconciled to God and awaiting His great blessing (Romans 5:10).
I am now reigning as a king because of Jesus Christ within me (Romans 5:17).
I am a receiver of God’s grace that far supersedes my worst sin (Romans 5:20).
I am dead to the old man; consequently, my flesh is powerless (Romans 6:6).
I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).
I am yielded to God. All my rights and expectations are His (Romans 6:13).
I am a recipient of eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1).
I am freed from the vicious cycle of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
I am following after the Holy Spirit which leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6).
I am a son of God; consequently, I am led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).
I am a son of God and joint-heir with Christ, sharing all His treasures (Romans 8:17).
I am confident that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).
I am being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
I have been given all things (Romans 8:32).
I am protected. Who can ever be against me? (Romans 8:31).
I am inseparable from God’s love (Romans 8:35).
I am more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37).
I am established to the end (1 Corinthians 1:8).
I am infused with Jesus, made acceptable to God, pure and holy (1 Corinthians 1:30).
I am a recipient of things too wonderful even to imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9).
(continued on next page)
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
10
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
(continued from previous page)
I am God’s temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16,17).
I am already full, rich, and I reign as a king (1 Corinthians 4:8).
I am washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11).
I am of one spirit with God (1 Corinthians 6:17).
I have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).
I am in the image and glory of God (1 Corinthians 11:7).
I am always led in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14).
I am a sweet aroma manifesting the presence of God wherever I go (2 Corinthians 2:14).
I am adequate for anything because my adequacy comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).
I am a new creation, the old is past; all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I am Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20).
I am strongest when I am weakest (2 Corinthians 12:10).
I am crucified and the life I now live is not mine but Christ’s (Galatians 2:20).
I am redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).
I am filled with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).
I am in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1).
I am blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).
I am chosen by God to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
I am predestined for adoption as a child through Jesus (Ephesians 1:5).
I am accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
I am forgiven all my sins (Ephesians 1:7).
I am lavished with His wisdom and insight to know His will (Ephesians 1:8,9).
I am predestined according to His purpose (Ephesians 1:11).
I am receiving exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
I am walking worthily because of all the insights of Ephesians 1-3 (Ephesians 4:1).
I am becoming mature, the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
I am no longer a child but growing up in all aspects of Christ (Ephesians 4:14,15).
I am laying aside the old self, renewing my mind for living a life of holiness and
righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
I am laying aside lies, anger, stealing, unwholesome communication (Ephesians 4:25-31).
I am kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).
I am strong in the Lord to fight off all satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6:10-17).
I am confident of His finishing the work in me unto perfection (Philippians 1:6).
I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
I am rejoicing in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).
I am anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6).
I am guarded by God’s peace; my mind has no turmoil (Philippians 4:7).
I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
(continued on next page)
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
11
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
(continued from previous page)
I am having all my needs met according to His riches (Philippians 4:19).
I am filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).
I am able to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful (Colossians 1:10).
I am strengthened with all power according to His might unto all patience and joy
(Colossians 1:11).
I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of God
(Colossians 1:13).
I am indwelt by Him in whom all fulness dwells (Colossians 1:19).
I have been presented to God - holy, blameless, and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22).
I am filled with God’s power that works mightily in me (Colossians 1:29).
I am complete in Christ, filled with God, the possessor of everything (Colossians 2:10).
I am blameless (Colossians 2:12-15).
I am growing because my nourishment and strength come from God (Colossians 2:19).
I am being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of Jesus (Colossians 3:10).
I am chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4).
I am not given a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
I am adequate, complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
I am delivered from every evil deed and will be brought safely to His Kingdom
(2 Timothy 4:18).
I am able to come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace
(Hebrews 4:16).
I am confident that He will never leave me and I fear not what men can do to me
(Hebrews 13:5,6).
I am lacking no wisdom (James 1:5).
I am kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5).
I am loved, and have been washed from my sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5).
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
12
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
“Table for Two” by Kirsten Burgess
He sits by himself at a table for two. The uniformed waiter returns to his side and asks,
“Would you like to go ahead and order, sir?” The man has, after all, been waiting since
seven o’clock—almost half an hour.
“No, thank you,” the man smiles. “I’ll wait for her a while longer. How about some more
coffee?”
“Certainly, sir.”
The man sits, his clear blue eyes gazing straight through the flowered centerpiece. He
fingers his napkin, allowing the sounds of light chatter, tinkling silverware, and mellow
music to fill his mind. He is dressed in a sport coat and tie. His dark brown hair is neatly
combed, but one stray lock insists on dropping to his forehead. The scent of his cologne
adds to his clean cut image. He is dressed up enough to make a companion feel important,
respected, loved. Yet he is not so formal as to make one uncomfortable. It seems that he
has taken every precaution to make others feel at ease with him. Still, he sits alone. The
waiter returns to fill the man’s coffee cup. “Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?”
“No, thank you.”
The waiter remains standing at the table. Something tugs at his curiosity. “I don’t mean
to pry, but...” His voice trails off. This line of conversation could jeopardize his tip.
“Go ahead,” the man encourages. His is strong, yet sensitive, inviting conversation.
“Why do you bother waiting for her?” the waiter finally blurts out. This man has been at
the restaurant other evenings, always patiently alone.
Says the man quietly, “Because she needs me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Well, sir, no offense, but assuming that she needs you, she sure isn’t acting much like
it. She’s stood you up three times just this week.”
The man winces, and looks down at the table. “Yes, I know.”
“Then why do you still come here and wait?”
“Cassie said that she would be here.”
“She’s said that before,” the waiter protests. “I wouldn’t put up with it. Why do you?”
Now the man looks up, smiles at the waiter, and says simply, “Because I love her.”
The waiter walks away, wondering how one could love a girl who stands him up three
times a week. The man must be crazy, he decides. Across the room, he turns to look at the
man again. The man slowly pours cream into his coffee. He twirls his spoon between his
fingers a few times before stirring sweetener into his cup. After staring for a moment into
the liquid, the man brings the cup to his mouth and sips, silently watching those around
him.
He doesn’t look crazy, the waiter admits. Maybe the girl has qualities that I don’t know
about. Or maybe the man’s love is stronger than most. The waiter shakes himself out of his
musings to take an order from a party of five.
(continued on next page)
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
13
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
Additional Building Materials
(continued from previous page)
The man watches the waiter, wonders if he’s ever been stood up. The man has, many
times. But he still can’t get used to it. Each time, it hurts. He’s looked forward to this
evening all day. He has many things, exciting things, to tell Cassie. But, more importantly,
he wants to hear Cassie’s voice. He wants her to tell him all about her day, her triumphs,
her defeats....anything, really. He has tried so many times to show Cassie how much he
loves her. He’d just like to know that she cares for him, too. He sips sporadically at the
coffee, and loses himself in thought, knowing that Cassie is late, but still hoping that she
will arrive.
The clock says nine-thirty when the waiter returns to the man’s table. “Is there anything
I can get for you?”
The still empty chair stabs at the man. “No, I think that will be all for tonight. May I have
the check please?”
“Yes, sir.”
When the waiter leaves, the man picks up the check. He pulls out his wallet and sighs.
He has enough money to have given Cassie a feast. But he takes out only enough to pay
for his five cups of coffee and the tip. Why do you do this, Cassie, his mind cries as he gets
up from the table.
“Good-bye,” the waiter says, as the man walks towards the door.
“Good night. Thank you for your service.”
“You’re welcome, sir,” says the waiter softly, for he sees the hurt in the man’s eyes that
his smile doesn’t hide. The man passes a laughing young couple on his way out, and his
eyes glisten as he thinks of the good time he and Cassie could have had. He stops at the
front and makes reservations for tomorrow. Maybe Cassie will be able to make it, he thinks.
“Seven o’clock tomorrow for party of two?” the hostess confirms.
“That’s right,” the man replies.
“Do you think she’ll come?” asks the hostess. She doesn’t mean to be rude, but she has
watched the man many times alone at his table for two.
“Someday, yes. And I will be waiting for her.” The man buttons his overcoat and walks
out of the restaurant, alone. His shoulders are hunched, but through the windows the
hostess can only guess whether they are hunched against the wind or against the man’s
hurt.
As the man turns toward home, Cassie turns into bed. She is tired after an evening out
with friends. As she reaches toward her night stand to set the alarm, she sees the note that
she scribbled to herself last night. “7:00,” it says. “Spend some time in prayer.” Darn, she
thinks. She forgot again. She feels a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushes it aside. She needed
that time with her friends. And now she needs her sleep. She can pray tomorrow night.
Jesus will forgive her. And she’s sure he doesn’t mind.
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
14
© LIVING FAITH FELLOWSHIP
101 - Building Your Faith
Lesson 5 - Devotional Life
Response to Truth
1.
____
I understand that to grow in my relationship with Jesus, I must let Him know
me.
2. ____ I understand that I should read the Bible expecting Jesus to speak to me.
3. ____ Have you ever read the Bible? Yes No
Would you like help studying the Bible? Yes No
4. ____ I understand that prayer is intimate communion with God.
5. ____ Do you pray regularly? Yes No
Would you like help developing your prayer life? Yes No
6. ____ I understand that the purposes of fasting are to give myself more fully and be
more sensitive to Jesus, to cleanse and chasten my soul, to have more
effective prayers, and for effective spiritual warfare.
7. ____ Have you experienced a 24-hour normal fast? Yes No
Would you like to? Yes No
8. ____ I understand that worship is the reverence, adoration, respect, honor, devotion,
and magnification of God by His people.
9. ____ I understand that worship pleases God.
10. ____ Do you worship regularly? Yes No
Would you like help in your expression of worship? Yes No
11. ____ I understand that as I read the Word, pray, fast, and worship, I become more
sensitive to, more perceptive of, more aware of His presence.
12. Do you have any questions about this lesson?
_________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Printed Name: ______________________________________________
TA’s Name:
______________________________________________
101 - Les. 5 - Devotional Life
Date: __________
15