September 20, 2022 — You might want to give it a try

“From time to time,” I mentioned to Stan one morning, “you have talked about how you spend time with God each morning.”

“That’s right,” Stan replied. “For me it’s through journaling about what I read in the Bible, what I hear from the Holy Spirit, praying to seek what’s on God’s heart, and things like that. Why do you bring it up?”

“Just wondering if you can tell me again why you do that. What’s the point? Is there something in the Bible that tells you to do that?”

“Those are really big questions,” Stan replied with a smile. “However, in a nutshell I can give you two Bible verses that point me in the direction of wanting to spend time with God every morning. One from the Old Testament and one we’ve talked about a lot from the New Testament.”

I didn’t say anything so he continued. “The verse from the New Testament that I find meaningful with this is the one where Jesus said that eternal life is knowing Him and God the Father.”

“John 17:3,” I responded.

“That’s right,” Stan said. “As we’ve talked about many times, it seems that we are to spend the time we have on this side of eternity, before our time here is done and we get on the train, knowing Jesus and His Father in an ever-deepening way.”

“And you think that your morning time takes you in that direction?” I asked.

“I sure do,” Stan replied. “For me it is an essential step in knowing God.”

“How about the Old Testament verse you mentioned?” I asked.

“It comes from the first part of the Book of Deuteronomy,” Stan said. “It’s a pretty simple statement that Moses made about what God had told the Israelites.”

“What’s that?”

“Time to move on,” Stan replied. “Moses said that God told them that they had stayed long enough at the mountain.”

“Long enough at the mountain?”

“That’s right,” Stan said. “They had been at Mount Horeb and God had told the Israelites what He had for them to do, and it was time to go do it. It was time to leave the mountain and go face what they were going to face in entering the Promised Land.”

“Okay,” I said, “but how does that apply to your morning time?”

“As much as I love spending time with God each morning drawing ever closer to Him,” Stan replied, “when I am finished journaling for the day, it’s time to go into the day, using what God has shown me to face whatever He has for me.”

“So,” I said, “your time each morning prepares you for what lies ahead, and if you didn’t do that you wouldn’t be prepared. Is that it?”

“That’s it for me,” Stan replied. “I know there are lots of different ways to spend time drawing closer to God, but for me it’s journaling. Through that time each day I truly sense drawing closer to God to see and to hear how He is preparing me to be the disciple He intends.”

“You hear from God,” I said, “and then it’s time to move on being who and doing what He has for you. Is that it?”

“That’s it, my friend,” Stan replied. “You might want to give it a try!”

__________________________________

Bible verses to consider:

The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” Deuteronomy 1:6.

And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you allow me to come to you in an ever-deepening relationship while you keep me on this side of eternity. Thank you that you want me to spend time with you reading your word and hearing your voice as you prepare me for what lies ahead. I confess that too often I do not spend sufficient time with you to see and to hear what you have for me. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live this life without spending time with the One who created it and gave it to me to live. Please help me in following every step of your lead so I am prepared for whatever you have for me to be and to do for you and your kingdom. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life with Him eternally when it is time so that you can draw ever closer to Him on this side of eternity? If no, why have you not accepted the provision of life eternally with Him? If you do have the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with drawing ever closer to Him on this side of eternity so you are prepared to be who and to do what He intends for you? If you sense the need for change in spending time with Him, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?