The single best decision I made leading up to 2019 was a decision to carve out time to spend with God daily. Prior to that I definitely had God in my life but honestly, I’d never been intentional about being with Him.
Click here to find out how I got started spending time with God.
What I can tell you is I am so happy He led me here. For now, the hard-fast rule is that it is one hour of uninterrupted time and He leads me in the rest. I had no idea what I was doing when I started. I didn’t know what to expect or what was expected of me. I just started and let God shape it. What a gift!
The Possibilities
I’m learning that spending time with Him can look like several different things. I’d never previously thought of all the possibilities. At the moment my time with him includes praying, talking, worship, admiration, thanksgiving and listening
Prayer
I separate the idea of talking to God from prayer. Prayer is my opportunity to ask for what I want and need. I can honestly tell you every single thing I’ve asked for this year, he has given.
Talking
Then there’s talking. I’m the type of person that needs to process her thoughts and feelings. I can hear or read the Word but then I need to wrestle with it to understand. Talking to God is a way for me to work through things and get revelation. I vent, scream, cry and laugh with him. He helps me better know Him and myself in the process.
Worship
I worship. The transition into his kingdom is glorious and worship comes as a natural overflow from that. If you only knew the inner life, he has brought me from.
Admiration
Admiration. I made this one up, well the label anyway. I use this label for the practice of seeing him in the world around me. I got to this point as I went through a period of asking to see him and suddenly He was everywhere. This is his world and his fingerprint is all over it. Oh, what a joy it is to see the creator in the light pouring through the window or in the trees blowing in the wind just outside my window.
Thanksgiving
I’m asking for so much right now and he delivers. As a result, I spend a lot of time in thanksgiving. I just can’t help but to be thankful for being under his care and rule.
Listening
And finally, there’s listening. This is the one I’ve spent the most time practicing. This entire thing started with my needing to hear from him. As a result, this is what I needed most. I’m still learning and growing in this area.
John 10:27 says
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27
The Payoff
I’m just beginning my life under God’s rule and I don’t think it can be done without time with him. My entire life and all that’s happening in it, originates from my time with him. I’m learning to hear and recognize his voice. I can’t tell you how it strengthens my faith each time he speaks to me; every time I recognize a confirmation of something he told me during our alone time. I’m like a little girl each time it happens. “Yes!! God told me that already! Yep – that’s truth.” My time with God allows me the opportunity to reflect on what he’s doing in my life; to understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit.
If you don’t already have a time set aside for you and Him, I strongly suggest it. I believe that’s what is meant by:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
I spent so many years trying to do the right thing and be a good person and then fit God in but that’s backwards. You seek him first, by spending time with him and everything else falls into place. He is an awesome teacher. He’s brilliant and he will show you his ways. You need only to go to him. Don’t worry about knowing how to do it, how to talk to him. Just do it. He’ll even help you with the approach. The bible promises in James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Christ the Example
But don’t take my word for it. Look at the very actions of Christ:
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,
Matthew 14:22-23
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Mark 1:35:37
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:45-46
