Many new Christians struggle as they learn how to spend time with the Lord. Perhaps they haven’t been taught or the person discipling them assumed they would know. Whatever the case, it’s vital for Christian growth to be in constant contact with God. We must not only talk to Him to see prayers answered and to express our thankfulness, but we must also read His Word to know His voice. Often it is viewed as a daily disciple or duty to fulfill. How would you feel if someone you loved with all your heart only spent time with you out of duty and hurried through your time as if they couldn’t get away fast enough. It truly makes me feel sad for the Lord. He’s given so much to all of us – from our salvation, to our life and on down to our smallest possession. Yet, to be honest with you, there have been times in my life when I rushed through my visit with God and marked it off my to-do list just to hurry on to the next item.
God longs to spend time with us. Not a one sided conversation, but talking to us and hearing our voices as we pray and talk with Him. If you will remember, from the very beginning of mankind, God came every day to walk and talk with man in the Garden of Eden until sin severed that close relationship. This is still His desire and longing.
There was a time in my life when I didn’t really understand how to spend time with the Lord. I would read the daily chapter of Proverbs and my required chapters of the day to get through the Bible in a year. I would pray through a list of requests and finish “my devotions.” It just wasn’t enough. I wanted to be closer to my God and know Him as my very own Abba Father. I am so thankful for the promise we find in James 4:8 where we are told that if we will draw in closer to God, He will draw in closer to us. Isn’t that wonderful? I decided to take God at His Word and allow Him to fulfill that promise in my life.
It was during this time that my pastor preached a sermon about how to spend time with God. It changed my life and my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Each day as I decided to draw closer to Him, I was more aware of His presence than before and I could more clearly hear His voice when He spoke to my heart. The steps my pastor taught in that sermon weren’t deeply theological, but those Biblical truths I learned from following the simple outline, helped me learn how to spend time with the Lord. I’d like to share that outline with you. Take these steps and implement them into your time with God and draw closer to Him that ever before!
HOW TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD
BIBLE READING – LISTENING TO GOD
PRAYER – TALKING TO GOD
- Praise ~ thanking God for what He does
- Worship ~ thanking God for what He is
- Confession ~ agreeing with God about my sin
- Prayer ~ asking God for those things needed
A. Basic needs
B. Forgiveness
C. For others
D. For the power, wisdom, strength, control and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life - Conclusion
A. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak on my behalf.
Romans 8:26
B. Claim a promise.
John 16:23, II Peter 1:4, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:32,
Ephesians 3:20, John 15:7, Luke 11:9-10, Psalm 119:132,
Philippians 4:19, II Samuel 23:5, Matthew 7:11
C. Honor God and express your love and thankfulness.
Psalm 41:13, I John 1:17, Jude 24-25, Revelation 5:13; 7:11-12; 19:1-4
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