Too often, we tend to treat devotion as a mere repetitive and causal daily activity. We allocate certain times of the day to pray, like someone says he would pray at 6am and 8pm each day, and then go about the rest of the day with zero acknowledgment or interaction with the things of the spirit.
So, devotion is reduced to a routine to tick off your schedule rather than a lifestyle.

The Bible paints a picture of the original design God intended for mankind in Eden, which was one of total dependence and sustenance on God for everything

Genesis 2:7-9
New King James Version
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God created man, from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. Placed him in the garden in Eden. In this place, God provided the water, the trees, the food, everything that they needed for their natural survival was provided. Not only that, but even spiritually because Eden was also a spiritual location, it had access to God’s space. God had interaction with them, for example:
He spoke to Adam saying he could eat from every tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God brought the animal to Adam to name.
God’s presence was in the Garden; Adam and Eve heard Him walking. This implies ongoing fellowship and communion.

Eden was a place of sustenance and communion, where man could depend on God for everything that they needed

Revelation 4:9-11 
New King James Version
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

We see the elders fall down before God in worship, casting their crowns and saying;

“You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power”

The first thing is to see the reality of any creature before God. God is so Holy, so separate, so big that the response is worship.

The second thing to see is that they say all things are created for God’s pleasure. So at the root of all creation, humanity must worship God and chase him with all of its heart.

Devotion to God is at the centre of the existence of mankind.

Psalm 27:4 
New King James Version
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

David desired one thing more than any other thing to dwell in the presence of God. To behold the beauty of God each day.

It speaks to the heart posture he had to always be with God. We understand that in the New Testament church, we are now the temples of the living God, but we should take a cue to learn from David. To desire to be with God each day, not for the sake of routine, but so we can behold his beauty.

Luke 10:38-42 
New King James Version
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha, in her own right, knowing that she had such an important visitor, was distracted with much serving. Because the messiah was in her home with her, I mean, what else should she be doing? But Jesus told her one thing was needed, and Mary, her sister who was seated at His feet, had gained something that would never be taken away from her.

In many ways, we could all be like Martha. We could get busy with going about different activities; school, work and even ministry and miss out on the one thing we needed most.
Miss out on the one thing that sustains and keeps us most. And that’s intimacy with God.

Mary decided to take her seat at the feet of Jesus and she took advantage of the access that she presently had to him and what she gained would be with her forever. Many times we miss out on the treasure of being much alone with God. We prefer to tick boxes than carry the real impact of the devotional lives we’re trying to build.

Today’s charge is for us to look away from just structures, times and schedules. They are good for accountability sake, but let’s not forget that our lives ought to be devoted to God.

As we approach the fasting week, this charge is to help give you the right mindset and heart posture, that you don’t just go about it mindlessly, abstaining from just food while giving your time to all other forms of entertainment and distractions just to pass time

Joel 2:12-13
New King James Version
12 “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

13 So rend your heart, and not your garments…

In context, the people of Judah had done wrong before God and the prophet had called for a holy assembly and a holy fasting and as they did this the lord said they should do this with their hearts and not just come with an appearance of consecration, wanting something from him but with their hearts inclined

This is what fasting is really about. A heart inclination. A heart posturing that is fixed on God. Where our gaze is set on him and we step aside from distractions.
That’s what it means to be on a fast. It’s not about staying away from food, or social media. It’s about what you will spend your time doing. It’s about buying back the lost time to be focused on God.

Even when you join the prayer meetings, is your heart there? Is your focus really there? Are you there to tick an attendance? Or did you come for an encounter?

Do you savor having an experience with God? Fasting can correct you, realign you, and place you back on track.

Jesus himself said:

Luke 18:1 
New King James Version
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Men ought always to pray. Some of us have forgotten that this ought to be our primary disposition to life.
Living each day in devotion to God. Continuing steadfastly in prayer and spending time with God. Because this is the one most important thing that we get to do each day.

Prayer point
Lord, I thank you for access. Help me to make devotion to You, my lifestyle. Give me a heart that longs to dwell in Your presence daily, to seek You above all things, and to live in true intimacy with You.