THE "IDOLATRY" OF PRIVATE DEVOTION

Recently, in our singles whatsapp group, we have been reading story about a couple whose marriage is almost at the verge of collapse. The husband is a pastor and the wife is the mummy G.O. but strife has opened the door for Satanic attack from witchcraft coven.

Both of them live as rat and cat yet they appear in church as united. Their home is under attack to the point where the man is now masturbating because his wife is denying him access to her body.

During one of those discussions,  a lady asked, "*What happens to the place of prayer and studying the word? Especially in this home of a minister*". I understand the reason behind her question. In her mind, she felt that if their prayer and word study life is intact, strife will not persist.

Well, under normal circumstance, a praying and word addicted believer should not have problems in their marriages but that is If they are doing those things rightly. There are wife-beating preachers who are still praying, fasting and studying the bible.

There are fighting pastors still observing private devotions. Haven't you seen/heard men of God fighting one another even to the point of litigation and still blowing hot? What then is the problem?

*When devotion becomes an "idolatrous" routine but true fellowship with God and brokenness is missing, the life of a praying and word studying believer will be as carnal as that of an unbeliever. The purpose of personal devotion is fellowship and daily transformation not just a mere religious exercise*.

This is one of the reasons we have delinquent children in our society despite coming from homes where there is family devotion morning and night. The devotion has become a mere religious exercise not a life transforming exercise.

* There are Christians whose prayer life and word study life has become *a religious routine* instead of an edifying and transforming exercise. They do it as a *religious culture* not because they want to fellowship with God to be transformed into the very image of Christ.

One of the ways to discern a religious devotion is in the prayer points. Their prayer point will always be "Me" centred instead of Christ-centred. They see it as a platform to roll out needs to God instead of asking for grace to be like Jesus daily. They study bible to claim only promises but leave out places that rebukes and brings correction to their awkward life style.

* It is in the place of genuine fellowship we behold Christ until we become like him as we get broken not a religious or idolatrous devotion*.

Once the focus of Christlikeness is lost in the life of a believer, he might be a preacher performing miracles and doing wonders but the very essence of his Christianity will be lost- to be like Jesus in character and deed. Do you get it now?

Paul says, *"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord*"( 2 Cor 3:18)

Why are you doing personal devotional daily? If it is not to become like Jesus, you have missed the point.

The latter part of her question laid emphasis on "especially in this home of a minister".

Some of us forget easily that God's calling upon a man's life is not equal to/ the same as spiritual maturity. There are numerous men of God with unique anointing yet they aren't mature spiritually. That's why you will see some preachers that are uniquely gifted and anointed still having marital issues such as this. Does it mean they are not praying or studying the word?

Some still spend a long time in prayer and bible study but not for personal transformation only for what to preach. There is no longer a receptacle in their hearts for the word of God to transform them first before preaching it to others. This is the danger of wanting to be everywhere without sitting under God to be transformed.

*It is dangerous for a preacher to always look for what to preach or teach instead of lessons to learn for personal application and growth*.

When a preacher gets to this point where prayer and bible study is a routine for the purpose of preaching only instead of seeking personal edification and growth, what happened to that pastor and his wife will happen regardless of how anointed. Haven't you seen or heard anointed preachers divorcing their wives for the same reasons they are preaching against?

*Until we are broken through proper fellowship with the Lord, religious observation of prayer and personal bible study will make no difference in our lives. It will be mere "idolatrous" religious routine*.

*May God work on us all and sharpen our rough edges*