Rule 4:  PROCESS IS IMPORTANT.  What I said in a previous blog about process not being the point doesn’t mean it’s not important.  I’ve never seen anyone be good at anything that woke up every day and started all over again.  You can usually spot the people who have decided on Saturday whether they are going to church or not.  They aren’t that glad to be here.  You need to have commitments in your Christian life. Your performance may or may not be completely consistent, but it will be far more consistent if you are committed to consistency than if you have the attitude, “Since 100 percent consistency is impossible, there’s no point in trying.”  You need to have decided, “This I will do.”  In other words, commit to getting up every day and spending time with God.  However you decide to do this, commit to the process and, as we will see in the next rule, make as much of a commitment to varying the process as you do to having one.  Otherwise, you’ll get stuck in a rut.  But it is important for you to have a process, even if it’s going to change sometime.

Rule 3:  PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE MATTER MOST.  Prayer and the reading of the Word of God appear to be the two most consistently essential items in quality walks with God.  They are for me.  There are certainly other things you can do.  You may fast.  There are many books that will teach you how.  You may give sacrificially to God’s causes.  You may minister to or give to people anonymously.  All these spiritual disciplines will help you have a walk with God.  But the two that seem to be the most consistent for people is (1) praying – that is talking with God, listening to God, confessing your sins, praying for others and (2) spending time reading the Bible for the purpose of learning of His character and will for us.

Rule 2:  HAVE A WALK, NOT JUST A TIME.  It’s one of life’s most tempting shortcuts to focus on process rather than outcomes.  For example, you may decide you’re going to read through the Bible this year and you’ll use one of the various plans, which will take 15 or 20 minutes each day.  That’s good, but reading through the Bible in a year is a process.  It’s not an outcome.  It may or may not produce a quality relationship with God in your life.  Reading through the Bible will be its most meaningful when you decide, “I’m going to read through the Bible, but I will not let it become a task to complete but will consistently learn what God’s mind is like, what God’s values are, and what God expects of me.”  That’s what’s known as a walk. 

 The Bible describes a relationship with God as a walk because in Jesus’ day the way most people got places was by walking.  They would usually walk in groups, probably for safety’s sake.  I don’t know when the last time you walked in a group was, but if you will observe when you do or watch others walking in groups, you’ll see it’s impossible to take a walk in a group and not talk.  So God wants you to walk through life with Him and talk with Him.  As you do you need to listen to Him, observe Him, and know He is observing you.  So make sure you focus on the walk and not just on the process, task or time.  One good way to do this is when your mind wanders or you are rushing to get through so you can get onto the next task, STOP – ask the Lord to slow you down and focus your mind, heart, and soul on Him.

For this blog and the several to follow, I’d like to share with you DICK’S FIVE RULES FOR THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE that have worked for me in keeping it fresh and meaningful for quite a few years.  Please don’t think I’m implying it’s fresh and meaningful every day. 

Rule 1:  SET ASIDE TIME WITH GOD.  I certainly pray when I’m riding in the car, as I’m heading into a meeting, or when I’m on the way to or in the middle of a ticklish situation.  These times are important.  They involve the discipline that Brother Lawrence called practicing the presence of God (in a famous book by that title – well worth reading).  However, they are insufficient to developing a walk with God.  They are more the outcome of a good relationship or walk with God than they are the cause of a great relationship.  As with everyone you are close to, you have to spend dedicated, focused time with that person – time that you sacrifice in order to spend that time with him or her.  I don’t think there’s a set amount of time you need to spend with God to have a successful walk.  I’ve heard lots of speculation about the amount of time you need to spend, but it seems to me to be just speculation or personal experience.  However, one thing everyone whose walk I respect has in common is dedicated time with God – time when they’re off alone with Him.  These times will vary as to amounts and intensity, probably dependent upon life circumstances, personality, and sense of need.  Is this a daily aim of yours?  It should be.  The blessings of dedicated time with God are enormous.