Introduction

For years, I desired to spend time alone with God. Or, maybe more accurately, I knew I should spend time alone with God, but I couldn’t seem to find something that would stick. I couldn’t seem to find something I’d want to do consistently. Now, after having developed the rhythm of meeting with God every day and experiencing all the incredible gifts God has for me every morning, I realize how much I suffered from a lack of direct connection with my heavenly Father when I went even one day without spending time alone with him. 

My awakening happened during the last campus worship service in the fall of my sophomore year at college. I was spiritually and physically exhausted. I had this hole in my heart that needed to be filled—a void longing for affirmation, for love. Because I had never discovered how to fill that hole with the unconditional love of the Father, I was working every day to be affirmed and loved by man, a love wrought with conditions, a love I could never count on. 

I was at the end of myself. Sitting on the front pew of Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, I prayed one of the first honest prayers of my life. It wasn’t eloquent. But it was real. I said, “God, I don’t know what to do, but I know you do. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.” I reached my hand out to a God I knew was real but a God I didn’t know how to have real relationship with. At that moment, I heard the voice of my Father speak to me. It wasn’t audible, but it was as clear and real as day. 

He said, “It just needs to be me and you for a while.” 

I knew exactly what God meant. With his words was a very present, unmistakable meaning: Stop seeking love from others and start seeking it in me. Stop looking for value and identity out in the world and start discovering your value and identity as my beloved. He directed my eyes away from the external and drew my gaze inward, to his Spirit fellowshiping with my spirit. That moment was a catalyst for a journey that changed my life—a journey of learning how to spend time alone with my Father. 

Wherever you are on your journey, I hope this book helps you discover new depths of conscious communion with a God who loves you more than you could ever know. You were made to spend time alone with God. You were made to dwell in his presence, hear his voice, and know his love in a way that roots you and establishes you in God’s life-changing goodness. His love will shelter you from the fickle opinion of others around you. His love will satisfy your heart in a way that equips you to live a full, inwardly abundant life. His love will empower you to abide in him that you might bear real, eternal fruit in this life. 

If it’s been difficult for you to establish consistency in spending time alone with God, or if you’ve been spending time with him for years, God has amazing things in store for you as you make space to meet with him. My prayer is that this book will serve as a catalyst for you to experience greater depths of God’s presence as you discover how available he truly is. May you find the courage to be more honest and vulnerable in the grace of the Father. May you learn powerful and practical truths that equip you to open your hands a little more to receive all the amazing gifts God has for you as you grow in unveiled relationship with him. 

May your heart come alive as you seek him who loved you first. 

A Guide to Catalyst