Most of your devotional time will be discipline without immediate benefits. Don’t let that discourage you. Consider the analogy of the runner. Early in his training his running is pure drudgery, sometimes it is closer to sheer torture. His muscles get sore, his feet hurt, sometimes he gets blisters or shin splints, but over a period of weeks his body rounds into shape. Without realizing it he starts to feel better. Even after he is in shape, there will be days when he has to force himself to run. As often as not the actual act of running is more discipline than pleasure. So it is with the devotional life.

“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.”

— Psalm 119:33-34 (NLT)

Lord Jesus give us the determination to remain faithful to our devotional life. Amen.