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Devotion with God

One of the most important things to building a relationship with someone is spending quality time with them. We all desire to spend time with our loved ones, especially our children. Why would it be any different with God and His children (us)? Experiencing God in a real, authentic way requires quality alone time with Him. God desires this from us more than we can comprehend because we can't understand the level of love He has for us. 

He is passionate about you!

God wants time alone with us. Alone time could refer to those times after the kids are in bed, but in this case, alone time is more than that. Alone time, or devotion time, refers to our connection time with God. The truth is, we all connect with God in different ways. The essentials in our time with Jesus is not the words from our mouths, but the posture of our hearts desperate to know and love God, to speak with Him and listen to Him.

While being disciplined does matter, it's also important to find a rhythm you enjoy that becomes natural to your routine. Without having regular, committed quiet time with God, we are not likely to hear His voice…the one that whispers, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). 

Jesus shows us examples of spending time with God as He took the time to connect with God regularly:

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray' "(Matthew 26:36). 

"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" (Mark 1:35). 

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16).

It is essential to spend time with God in daily devotion. Why? Paul explains: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). 

Spending time in God's Word isn't just about gaining more knowledge. It's about getting to know someone as real as the person next to us!

You can start this today by setting aside time every day to spend with God. It may be early in the morning, or at least before you begin the day's regular activities. Make it a time when you are mentally alert when you have no distractions, and you are not rushed. Discipline yourself to keep this time every day, even when travel or a busy schedule makes it difficult. Make it such a regular part of your life that you would no more skip it than you would miss putting your shoes on in the morning or even brushing your teeth.

Read and reflect on this exciting reality from God's Word:

"... He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you." 

- Exodus 34:14

Prayer:

"Lord, thank you for the great privilege to get to know you. My heart desires you above all the blessings you can bring. I want you! Teach me to desire you even greater. Help me to know your voice and know your heart. Give me the strength and grace to grow deeper and deeper in my friendship with you with each passing day. In Jesus' name, Amen."