As
Christians, we have to be careful when we use certain terminology that new
Christians may not understand: devotions, study, meditate, even prayer. If we don’t explain these things in practical
terms, then how will they ever understand the maturity that comes from these
activities? Time with God is one of
them. Does that mean pull up a chair,
sip on hot cocoa, God appears and you worship Him? This post is meant to be some of the
practical steps we can take to draw nearer to the Lord.
Set a Place and
Time
Find an area where you can be undisturbed, mostly quiet to
keep from distractions and ensure it is comfortable for the purpose but not so
comfortable you fall asleep easily.
Commit to a certain amount of time at a specific time daily and treat it
with the highest priority. Start with a
reasonable amount and work your way up to more as needed or wanted.
Items to Have Ready
at Your Place
A Bible that you understand with print large enough to
read.
There are various plans you can find online to help. Some tell you what to read daily, some go
through the entire Bible in a year, while others simply let you check off what
you’ve read.
A pen and paper (or notepad) to write your thoughts on.
Worship or Express
Gratitude
Turn on some worship music and sing to the Lord for a
bit. I’ve found it helps to focus my
thoughts on Him better and it feels like I enter into His presence this way.
If this makes you uncomfortable, then at least express
thankfulness over who He is and what He does for you.
Give to Jehovah the glory of His name; bring an
offering and come before Him. Worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness. 1Ch. 16:29
O give thanks to Jehovah, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. Ps. 107:1
Pray Before You
Read
Open my eyes, so that I may behold wonderful things
out of Your Law. Ps. 119:18
…the Holy Spirit …shall teach you all things and
bring all things to your remembrance... Jh. 14:26
Often I pray God will open my eyes to ‘see’ (understand) His
Word, and also that His Spirit would teach me all the things I need to know.
Read the Bible
Read at a reasonable pace.
Never rush it. Stop and ponder
some things as you go. Eventually you
will find certain verses will ‘jump out at you’ and those should be meditated
upon (mulled on or thought about for a while.)
Ask questions- who, what, where, when, why and how. Ask how are you similar to each of the people
in the verses: what do you learn from this?
This book of the Law shall not depart out of your
mouth, but you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you may be
careful to do according to all that is written in it… Js. 1:8
All Scripture is
God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly
furnished to every good work. 2Tm. 3:16 ,17
(Stay tuned next post for Time With God- Part 2)