GIVE ME THAT BOOK
A DEVOTIONAL DESIGN FOR 2009
BY DR. GARY RIEBEN

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14

Spiritual growth does not happen by chance nor is it passive. It happens as we deliberately respond to the work of the Holy Spirit upon our lives. We are to actively grow by pursuing God through the means of grace he has provided. Prayer, the Word and the obedience of faith are essential means to spiritual growth. All of God's giants practiced spiritual disciplines in their passion to know and show the glory of Jesus Christ. Below is my attempt to set spiritual goals for the coming year and a strategy to help me reach them. I divided up my objectives into three categories: those that deal with the heart- affections; those that deal with the head- meditations; and those that deal with the hands- consecration.

1] AFFECTIONS OF THE HEART: Here my intention is to prayerfully create a personal plan that addresses spiritual areas in my life that need to grow. They may include attitudes like- a greater love for Jesus; or replacing anxiety with bold faith; or overcoming some debilitating sin; etc. The point here is that we need to be specific in our planning and praying for growth. At the end of the year we want to be able to identify change and rejoice in what God did in our hearts. The ultimate goal is to increase our love for Christ.

2] MEDITATIONS OF THE HEAD: Here my intention is to develop a personal plan whereby I seek to gain more knowledge of God through regular and serious engagement with his Word. This will include such things as a detailed plan for Bible reading, scripture memory, meditation, journaling and devotional readings. I do this because the Bible shows that before God’s truth can affect our hearts, it first must be known and understood in the head. That is why we hear so many set their hearts on God’s law [Psalm 119:30] and cry out for understanding to know God’s truth [Psalm 119:34]. The ultimate goal is to grow in the knowledge of Christ.

3] CONSECRATION OF THE HANDS: Here my intention is to identify practical and objective
ministry projects that can be seen and measured at the end of the year. The projects might include such results as- salvation of specific friends and family members; the establishment of a ministry that meets the needs of children in your neighborhood; or, the getting out of debt so that one can become more generous in giving to the things of God. Here the focus is upon God using my gifts and resources to bless others with the love of Christ so that people are blessed and God is glorified through the good works of our hands. [Matthew 5:16]. The ultimate goal in seeing such tangible results to our prayer and persistence will be to increase our joy in Christ.

On the next page, I will provide a worksheet to help you formulate your own Devotional Design for 2009. I have also included hints and tips that you may find helpful. If I can help you or be a resource person for you in this awesome quest, feel free to contact me. Gary Rieben

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