Time With God – Part 1

Part 1 of 2

“I have so many things to do today, I dare not ignore my time with God.”
– Martin Luther

We live in a world of time, with 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, 28-31 days in a month, and 12 months in a year. God has given us so much time, and we should use it to our best advantage. With so much time given to us, how much of it are we spending with the Lord? We should be grateful for the time that we are able to spend with Him and for the blessings, answered prayers, and the relationship He has given us. 

Do you find yourself eagerly anticipating your Time With God? Do you take the time to pause and just focus on Him, free from distraction? 

The Bible makes it clear that we should take time to be still and just recognize God’s presence in our lives. In  Psalm 46:10, it says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This verse is a reminder of how important it is to take time to be still and recognize God’s greatness.

Are you still? Are you taking the time to devote yourself to Him? Do you truly understand how great our God is, or are you going through life without Him, without any kind of relationship? 

It is important to remember that God is not only our creator but also our friend, He is there waiting for us to turn to Him and develop a relationship. It is only then that we can begin to understand the depths of His greatness and the power of His love. He is a loving God, and He desires for us to have a relationship with Him. Let us all take the time to pause and reflect on the greatness of our God, and to develop a meaningful relationship with Him.

Nehemiah 1:5 – New International Version
Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” 

Many of us are planners, and it’s important to plan the time and place for our Time With God. Setting aside a time for prayer and reflection can be a powerful way to connect to our Heavenly Father. It can be a special moment each day, where we know that it’s time to pause and talk to God. No matter where we are, we can find a quiet place to talk to God and feel His presence. By setting aside a specific time and place for prayer, we create a dedicated space for our conversations with God. Let’s remember to plan ahead and make Time With God a regular part of our lives.

When we are at our lowest points in life and feel like we have nowhere else to turn, we often cry out to the Lord. We are not ashamed to pray and plead, hoping that He will hear our desperate cries. We know that He understands our pain and sorrow, and that He can help us to bear it. In these moments, we can feel His presence and love, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our refuge in times of trouble and our hope in times of despair. He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. When we are hurting, we can always turn to Him and He will be there for us. 

Psalm 5:3 — Good News Translation
You hear my voice in the morning; at sunrise I offer my prayer and wait for your answer.

No matter what difficulties life throws our way, we must always remember to take a moment to appreciate the good days and recognize that they are a gift. We should be grateful for the days of joy and peace, the days of blessings and love, the days when everything seems to be going right. We often forget that all the moments of our life that we take for granted – the early mornings when we wake up, the afternoons when we are at work, school, having lunch, or out shopping – are all blessings from God. He has gifted us with these moments, yet we forget to recognize them. 

We enjoy life without burdens, without worries, and without fears, but we should not forget that these moments have been provided to us by our Creator. We must take a moment to appreciate these blessings and thank God for them. Taking time to recognize and appreciate the blessings He has given us is essential to living a life of gratitude and being mindful of the blessings we have.

So, let us not forget to take a moment to appreciate the good days, to recognize the blessings that come along with them, and to be thankful to God for the beauty of life.

In the evenings, when we are at home, we can find moments of peace and contentment. We can enjoy dinner with our families, watch TV together, spend time with our children, or simply relax and read a book. It is during these times that we can find solace in our homes, our lives, and our hearts. For those of us who are looking for something even deeper, we can turn to the Good Book – The Bible – for further spiritual insight and guidance. The Bible contains wisdom and teachings that can help us to build a strong foundation of faith and understanding of the world around us. So, when we are looking for peace and contentment in the evenings, let us turn to the Good Book for a little extra guidance and insight.

Psalm 1:2 — New American Standard Bible
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

God deserves our utmost devotion and respect, and that can be shown in our daily lives. Spending Time With God can be the most honorable, wholesome, and memorable moments of our lives. Quiet times of prayer, worship, reading the Bible, talking to Him one on one, and giving Him thanks and praise are all important ways to show our love and devotion.

Matthew 6:6 — Amplified Bible
But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

“Making Time With God is not about us, but about Him. We must be willing to put aside our own interests and instead focus on Him and what He desires from us. We must be willing to listen to Him, read His Word, and obey His commands. Only then can we truly experience the full joy of being in relationship with our Lord.”

I write to you all today to admit my guilt. I have not been spending enough time with the Lord, and I regret it deeply. I have come to understand that I have been failing in my spiritual journey, and I am determined to make a change. 

When I first wake up in the morning, I find it easy to gravitate towards social media like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Band, and Twitter. I can’t help but to grab my phone and start scrolling through people’s posts, reading their shares, blogs, tweets, and raves. It almost becomes a reflex – I’m so used to it that I don’t even think twice. I can’t help but take a moment to share, copy, and paste the interesting, funny, and encouraging things I find. I’m so quick to dive into other people’s lives before I even give God a moment of my time. This can often become my priority and I forget to give God a moment of my time. It’s something I need to work on, as it’s not a healthy practice. Social media can be a great way to connect with people and stay up to date, but it shouldn’t take precedence over having a relationship with God.

It is so easy to get caught up in daily tasks and forget to make time for God. I often find myself neglecting to spend time in the Bible, despite knowing that it should be a priority. I make excuses such as not having enough time, or not being in the mood, and these distractions keep me from spending time in God’s word. Yet, God puts us first all the time–even scripture tells us this. We must remember to prioritize our relationship with Him, and take time to read the Bible regularly. It is our responsibility to make the effort, and I must be accountable to do this. I know that when I spend time in the Bible, I will be blessed.

Proverbs 16:3 — English Standard Version
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Allow me just a second of your time to help you appreciate what a wonderful gift we have been given with each new day. 

Every morning we are blessed to be able to open our eyes, stretch and take in the fresh air. Our first thought should be to thank our Creator for the gift of another day and the opportunity to use it fruitfully. When it comes to starting your day, there is nothing simpler than putting God first. Taking a few moments to offer your thanks and praise to Him can be a powerful way to set the tone for the day. By doing this, you are essentially inviting the Father into your day and creating a feeling of joy and upliftment. Knowing that you started your day by honoring God can be an incredibly reassuring sensation that will help you to stay positive and keep a peaceful attitude throughout the day. It really is as simple as that.

For coffee drinkers, the smell of a freshly brewed pot in the morning is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It’s the start of the day, when we can finally open our eyes and be ready to tackle whatever comes our way. It’s not just about the smell of a steaming cup of joe, but the taste as well. The perfect blend of roast and flavor that sets your taste buds alight. That first cup of coffee is a signal that we’re ready to go, and it’s a chance to start the day off on the right foot. 

No! There is nothing better than the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. Every morning, we should give thanks for being blessed with the sense of smell. It’s one of our five senses that allows us to truly appreciate the subtle, yet powerful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The smell of the coffee beans as they are being ground, the sound of the liquid as it is poured into the cup, and the sight of the steam rising from the freshly brewed cup of coffee are all indications that the day is beginning. Let us be thankful to God for allowing us to experience this simple pleasure.

God is patient and understanding. Don’t worry about trying to make your prayer sound perfect. He loves you, and He knows your heart. He will accept your prayer however you choose to say it. Talk to Him as you would a best friend, or just speak from the heart. God is listening. 

Prayer is a two-way communication, so make sure you listen too. Give Him the opportunity to speak to you and show you the way. He may not answer in the way you expect, but He will make His will known.

The Father does not expect long hour prayers, nor does He require meaningful prayers with a purpose. He just wants your time; that’s all. Even if it is just a few moments each day, He will take it and appreciate it.

You can start your day with a simple “Good Morning God, Thank you for this day.” No matter how long or short your Time With God may be, He will acknowledge it and love you for your effort. When you make time for Him, even if it is just acknowledging His presence and giving Him thanks, He will be thankful. 

What better friend than God to start your day? To just talk, vent, or just talk about the things planned ahead? God is always ready to listen and provide words of comfort and encouragement. So why not start your day with the best friend of all – God?

Every morning begins the same way: We wake up, have our caffeine, and out we go. We make our way to our cars, and drive off to school, work, or the gym. We make our journey with the blessing of God, trusting in His protection to get us to our destination on time and unharmed. With every turn of the wheel and every passing mile, we are grateful for the chance to make it to our destination each day. We are thankful that God watches over us, granting us the privilege of a safe journey.

Getting to our destination each morning is something we often take for granted. We hop in the car, turn on the radio, and hit the road without giving a second thought to how we got there.

But how often do we stop to give thanks to God for getting us to our destination safely and on time? In good weather and bad, we should pause and give thanks for His provision and protection. We are so blessed to have such a loving, caring God who watches over us each day and keeps us safe. Let’s take a few moments each morning and pause to thank the Lord for our safe arrival.

Talking to God can be a wonderful way to express gratitude and appreciation. One way to do so is simply to say, “Thank you, Father, for getting me here safely.” In saying these words, you are reminding yourself and God of the many blessings you have in your life. When you thank God, you show Him that you recognize the hand of His protection and provision in your life. 

God’s love is unconditional, and His mercy and grace are new every morning. We may not always recognize the little things He blesses us with, but they are there, manifesting in the smallest and most unsuspecting of ways. From the sun rising in the morning to the birds singing in the trees, God is present in our lives, constantly showering us with His love.

1 Chronicles 16:34 — Christian Standard Bible
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

We also use our sense of smell to guide us in our daily lives. For example, the smell of a freshly brewed cup of coffee can help to start the day off right, while the scent of a lemon can bring a feeling of freshness and clarity. Our sense of smell can even be used to bring back memories from the past.

We have the incredible gift of sight. It allows us to take in the beauty of life, from the vast sky above, the rolling waves of the ocean, the tall trees reaching towards the heavens, and the growth of our children from birth to adulthood. If we are lucky enough to have a spouse, we are able to witness their beauty, be it a wife or a husband. Our sight allows us to appreciate all of the beauty of life and love, and for that we are truly blessed.
Waking up next to my wife every morning is a treasured blessing that I am thankful for every day. After 35 years of marriage, we are still together and it warms my heart to see the beautiful smile on her face in the morning when I’m getting ready for work or when I come home in the evening. I am so grateful to have her in my life and I thank God for this blessing.

Saying “Thank You, God, for This Day” is a simple yet powerful way to express our gratitude. When we give thanks to God, we are acknowledging Him and His provision, and we are connecting with Him in a special way. This is Time With God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  – New International Version
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Willie Torres

Time With God (Part 1)