Spending Time With God
If there is one thing I learned from nearly 34 years of marriage is that when my wife and I failed to spend quality time together; our relationship suffered. Quality time which consisted of me and her time. Not, me, her and the television or the lap top. Quality time is that time we spend together without distraction. We had each other’s un-divided attention.
Let me ask you a personal question this morning, (rhetorical but personal) when is the last time you spent some quality time with God in which He had your un-divided attention? Time in which it was just you and God.
Listen, spending time alone with God is indispensable when it comes to growing deeper in our relationship to God the Father through Jesus Christ.
One of the hardest things to accomplish in life is finding time to just rest in the presence of God. We all have responsibilities, we all have those things which demand our time and attention. What amazes me is how when we become strapped for time, and the business of life has us by the ankles; we sacrifice the very thing that can bring calm and peace in the midst of unprecedented pressure from every side….time…alone….with ….God!
I am reminded of the passage of scripture in which Elijah is standing on the mountain looking for God. However, God was not in the strong wind, nor was he in the earthquake that came next, neither was he in the fire that followed. The Lord God did speak to Elijah that day, but He spoke to him in a still small voice. I wonder how often God longs to speak to His children but we cannot heart His voice of strength, the voice of encouragement and grace because of all the clamoring and business and noise of our lives.
The Lord Jesus knew the importance of getting alone with God. Often He would separate Himself from the crowds and even those closest to Him, His disciples; that He might engage in time alone with the Father.
When is the last time you spent some quality time with your heavenly Father? The Psalmist said “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I will pray. My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to you, and I will look up.”
Psalm 119:147 declares “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in your word”
Pray!
Barry Campbell
Corporate Chaplain