7. The Devotional Life - A Date with the Lover of My Soul

God has loved us and wanted our company from before the creation of the world. Our devotional time is meant to be a date with Him! I love how Solomon’s Song of Songs invites me to Him: My dove . . show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely (Song of Songs 2:14).

God wants me to come to Him as I am; to show Him my face. He doesn’t want a routine, but an authentic meeting with me to hear my voice. He thinks my voice is sweet! He finds my face lovely!

I started having a devotional time around the age of 10. It nurtured me then, like milk nourishes a baby that doesn’t know why it wants the milk. Over the years this special time nurtured, fed, and satisfied my soul. I have seen you in your sanctuary . . . I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you (Psalm 63:2-5). Although I ‘m satisfied, I hunger for more.

Worship is part of my devotional life. I often ask the Holy Spirit to aid me to the throne room, and to help me worship in the Spirit as a response to God with all my life in view of what God has done for me. The apostle Paul describes this as true and proper worship (Romans 12:2). I speak back, pray back, or sing back God’s revealed attributes of Himself and then I tell Him who He has been to me: My shepherd! My strength! My help! The prophet Isaiah modeled this: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2,3).

Truth expressed in music—based on the attributes of God from the Scriptures—gets to my heart in a particular way. Sometimes I make up songs to God. Often as I worship—lifting God up through music—the water of His Spirit refreshes and strengthens me. I get a fresh glimpse of Him that informs and guides my prayers and strengthens my faith.

I pray—not just bringing requests to God, but pouring my heart out to Him and being real with Him (Psalm 62:8). I spend time in the Word—asking the Lord to speak to me as I read and meditate on His Word. My devotional time may be a “date” with God, but I strive to remain in tune with Him, in fellowship with Him, the rest of the day as well.
Esther Wariuru

Esther Waruiru met The Navigators in 1970 through Navigator staff Geri White working with The Navigators at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and invited her to a Navigator Bible study. Esther is now International Vice President of The Navigators.