After "I Believe"Sample

Day Four: Spending Time with God

Quick question: If you spend five minutes a day with someone, how close will you be? The answer is simple—you will be five-minutes-a-day close. So does it matter how much time you spend each day with God? Every bit as much. Five minutes a day with God will result in being five-minutes-a-day close. No time with God at all? You can do the math. 

When you look at the life of Jesus, you see that He was very intentional about His time with the Father. Specifically, He was intentional with how He started every single day: in prayer. He began His day orienting Himself toward the eternal, the spiritual, the transcendent. He started everything with time with his Father. And it was quality time, involving silence and solitude. 

The impact of Jesus’ mornings alone, praying and reflecting on the Scriptures, was profound. First, He became redirected. He gained a clear, fresh understanding of the will of the Father for His life. It became clear what He was to do and where He was to go. 

Second, Jesus became refueled. He was ready for new tasks, new challenges. 

Lastly, He became resolved, committed to the big picture of His priorities and life purpose. With new clarity, He could say, “This is why I have come.” 

If you could put something into your morning routine that would redirect you in ways you need it, refuel you where you are running on empty, and give you the resolve you need to follow your life on purpose, would that be worth scheduling? 

I’d challenge you to begin with just seven minutes a day. It may not seem like much, but don’t underestimate seven minutes a day with God. It could revolutionize your life. 

For the first 30 seconds, prepare your heart and turn inward in prayer. Ask God to be with you, to meet with you, to speak to you, and to teach you. 

In the next four minutes, take out your Bible and read it. Read Scripture slowly, thoughtfully and through the lens of your heart. 

Finally, spend the last two and a half minutes praying, opening your heart to God.

I think that every morning you get up and say, “Abba, come be with me,” the heart of God melts. And you can count on him being right there, … and the two of you getting very, very close. 

Resolve to find seven minutes in your day to spend time alone with God. Try for at least three weeks, then let that time grow. Before you know it, you’ll be effortlessly spending 20-30 minutes with God, time you will feast off of for the rest of the day.