I can not express to you how important it is to spend time with God. He tells us to “seek first His kingdom and all things will be given to you”-Matthew 6:33. Whatever you may be going through, my friend, it is important that you allow God to move in your life.
In order to seek His kingdom, you have to get in His presence. In order for Him to speak, you have to know Him for yourself. You can only know Him by spending time with Him. Below is an outline of how I utilize my quiet time.
- Find a time of the day that you are the most alert-I like to spend time with Him in the morning before I leave for work. I don’t want to leave the house without being in His presence. Maybe for you, the evening works better. Whenever you are the most alert, you should devote time to be in His presence.
- Study a chapter/verse-Maybe you are struggling with a particular area such as worry, find the verses of worry and take time to understand what the Lord says about that subject. Make an effort to learn a new verse a week (or whatever timeframe you need to really get that verse in your heart).
- Pray-Allot time to pray over that verse and how it is applicable in your life. God wants to meet you exactly where you are.
- Be still-This is by far the one that has taken the most practice on my end but it is so important. In order for God to speak to you, you have to be still. Quiet your mind for a moment after prayer and truly allow Him to comfort you during this time. It may be hard at first but it is important in your walk with Him.
I have made this a routine in my life. Yes, there are certain days where I try to skip over a step to rush and get my day started but honestly, I do not feel complete. God wants us to devote time with him, uninterrupted (phones off, TV off, and away from any distractions).
It is my hope that we all get to a point where we feel incomplete without being in His presence. Before you run to your friend for help or act in your own will, seek Him first.