“Spending time with God” – Isn’t this something very basic that all Christians should know and should be doing? But sad to say that many of us are not doing it consistently or even doing it at all! We are preoccupied with many chores and many things to do except spending time with God. We tend to put this to the very last.  At the end of the day, when we thought of spending time with God, we feel so exhausted and tired that we decide to call it off for that day.  The desire to spend time with God becomes lesser and lesser as the days go by.  The hunger and the thirst for God’s Word diminish even without you and me knowing it at all.  It is this major concern in my heart that prompts me to surface this issue so that we are all aware of our current spiritual condition.  In fact, each of us cannot go on in our Christian life in such a state, that is, without spending time with God.  I hope that this perspective will urge many to turn their hearts to the Lord and to seriously consider about starting their Christian journey alright by making effort to spend time with our gracious and loving God.

“Spending time with God” meant “sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening attentively to Him, not distracted by your own voice or other voices, only listening to the voice of God your Master.” It is having an enjoyable time with God. It is a time where you allow your heart to worship God with songs which are dear to you or songs which the Lord brought to your attention and which freely flow from within you. It is also a time where you remain quiet before the Lord, reading a few Bible verses or perhaps, a short Bible passage and allowing God Himself to speak to you through that passage.  It is mainly to listen to what God is saying to you.  Some may like to use an acronym, “S.P.E.C.K.” for a start.  During your time spent with God, you may ask yourself these questions: 1) Is there any Sin which you need to confess to the Lord?  For example, if you have given a false witness on some matters, then confess it to the Lord.  2) Is there any Promise which the Lord wants you to claim upon?  For example, in 1 John 1: 9 ― God will forgive your sins when you confess them. 3) Are there any Examples for you to follow?  For example, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.  Jesus has set an example for us to follow, that is, to be baptized just as He was.  4) Are there any Commands for you to obey?  For example, in John 13: 34 ― God commands us to love one another.  5) Is there any Knowledge of God, of Christ and of the Spirit whom I could learn from?  For example, in 1 John 4: 16 ― The knowledge of God here is: God is love.

Even Jesus our Lord needed to spend time with His Father, how much more we, the followers of Jesus! This is recorded for us in Mark 1: 35, “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.” Spending time with God is vital for our spiritual growth as mentioned in Matthew 4: 4 that “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Let us stir up our hearts with such hunger for the Word of God once again.  Imagine how wonderful it is when we know that we are hearing each word that comes from the mouth of God when we read the Bible each day. God is speaking to you and me! Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that great? I recall what Job said in Job 23:12, “I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” You could see how Job’s desire was concerning His time with God.  The Word of God is more important to him than his daily needs. I recall what Jeremiah said in his relationship with God in Jeremiah 15: 16, “When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty.” You could also see how Jeremiah’s delight and joy was concerning the Word of God.  Let us have such joy and delight regarding the Word of God and regarding the urgent need to set aside time to spend with God our Creator, our Saviour and most of all, our Lord and our King.  Let the Lord our God set your heart and mine on fire once again for spending that wonderful time with Him without fail.  Give God the first place in your life and you will never regret it throughout your life.

Spending time with God deepens your relationship with God. It provides the opportunity for you to draw close to God and for God to draw close to you.  It is that yearning to be with God whom you love and to enjoy His loving companionship.  Being in the very presence of God is such a joy and a privilege! I wish all of you will take time to be with God, spending time intentionally with Him, letting Him speak to you and letting Him direct your life and then, speaking to Him through songs and prayers.  Intimacy with God will be built over time when you begin first intentionally to set aside your precious time to be spent with Him. Spending time with God also enables you to have the strength to face each new day as it comes. You know that God is with you to go through the day’s struggle and trial together. Spending time with God requires discipline and prayers. It requires discipline because it is a deliberate effort which you are doing it, not as a chore but as a joy. When you have decided to set aside a certain time to spend with God, let your close friends know so that they can uphold you in prayers.

Let us not procrastinate any more! Now is the time to deepen your relationship with God! Now is the time for each of us to make it a point to spend time with God! If not now, then when would it be a better time? Don’t wait until too late! Let us make it a commitment to spend time with God consistently.  Amen.