You go to church, and maybe Sunday School. Perhaps you even go to a Bible Study during the week. But do you ever spend one on one, quiet time with God?
Life is hectic! You have so many things pulling at you from the minute you get up in the morning, to the time you go to bed at night. The kids, the house, laundry, an outside job, practice, church. Everyone wants a piece of you…..including God. Do you feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions?
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Has God become an afterthought for you? Not intentionally, of course, but because of this crazy, busy life, you’re living.
We’re called to put Him first. He longs for us to go to Him, to spend actual one on one, quiet time with Him.
If we’re going to church every Sunday, bible study every week, say our prayers every night, why does he long for more?
He wants this time alone because He has so much to teach us. He created us to live fully in Him and to experience this journey with a joy-filled heart. And quite honestly, it’s for us. To learn to live in the way He intended.
I know it can be tough, but I’ve put together a list of reasons why you should spend quiet time with God. Important reasons that will change your perspective and the way you live your life.
He wants us to stop worrying and to trust in Him completely
Fear paralyzes, but faith empowers!
This is one of my favorite quotes and I think about it every time I start to worry. Just take a moment to consider it.
How often do you let your mind wander and next thing you know, you begin to worry? Turning something you have no control over into something bigger than it ever winds up being in the end.
Finances, health, kids, parents, the job……the list of worries can grow longer by the minute. I get it because I used to be the queen of worriers. Turning molehills into mountains.
That is until I read something that slapped me right in the face. Have you ever considered that whatever it is you’re worried about, you’ve turned into an idol? Say what?!
I had never thought about it like that. I mean, God is my one and only true God and yet since it was something that was taking up so many of my thoughts, I had done the very thing I would never intentionally do – turn my worries into an idol. I was thinking about them far more than I thought about God.
Your natural tendency when you’re feeling anxious is to focus on yourself or your problems. The more you do this, the more you forget about God and all the help He can supply. (Sarah Young, Jesus Always)
He longs to spend quiet time with you to teach you that you can trust in Him and don’t have to spend your life worrying. That you can actually find peace no matter what is going on in your life.
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He wants us to include Him in everything we do.
The Bible tells us that God created us in his image. He desires a relationship with us and wants to help us live our life to the fullest.
What God wants most is a close relationship with you and for you to pursue knowing Him. The closest and most important relationship in our lives is with God through Christ. (God Loves Us: Thirteen Weekly Lessons with Daily Challenges by Robert Riding)
God’s plan for us is so much bigger than anything we could imagine. With our earthly perspective, our hopes and dreams are limited, but when we live out our lives according to His purpose, we can, and will, accomplish far more than we ever thought possible.
He wants us to learn to forgive.
When someone hurts us, the last thing we think to do or even want to do is forgive that person. Yet, that’s exactly what God calls us to do.
He’s forgiven us for our shortcomings and loves us unconditionally, therefore, shouldn’t we extend grace to others who need it?
Unfortunately, I’ve needed this time and again in my life. I look back at some of the things that I’ve done…..judging someone when it wasn’t my place to judge, not extending grace when I should have, not allowing God to shine through me because of my ugly behavior…and sadly, there are many more items I could add to this list.
But He’s forgiven me! I don’t deserve it, and yet, He has!
How about you? Have you done things you aren’t proud of? It’s o.k. We all have and thankfully, God has already extended us grace but he expects us to do the same. So stand up! Rejoice in those mistakes because they taught you and made you stronger!
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 5:31-32 NLT
If you need help forgiving someone, check out How To Pray For Someone Who’s Hurt You and How To Forgive Someone Who’s Hurt You.
He wants us to give Him control so we can live peacefully.
You have challenges in your life that are completely beyond your control. Maybe it’s a chronic illness or a boss that doesn’t know how to be kind. Perhaps it’s freezing cold outside and your furnace just broke. Or you’ve lost your job and have a stack of bills piling up on your desk.
It doesn’t matter what your challenge is, it’s beyond something you can control. It doesn’t make you a bad person, and focusing on what you can’t control is a complete waste of time.
God tells us,
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
We’re going to have trouble and challenges in our life, but God teaches us through every one of them. He makes us stronger.
He is the only way that we can find true peace. When you stop focusing on all your challenges and struggles and start thanking God for each and every one of them, it’ll completely change your perspective. You’ll begin to Find Joy Despite Your Circumstances and let me tell you, it’s a glorious way to live!
I know what you’re thinking. “Why should you thank Him for your struggles?” Because every challenge will make you stronger. They’ll teach you compassion. You’ll learn what’s truly important in your life….not your material things, but your relationships with your family, friends and most important, God.
My chronic illness is something I can’t control, but I’ve learned to rejoice and thank God for every migraine, because every one of them has brought me closer to him and right here to you – writing for you and pushing you to grow in your relationship with Him, to learn to live a life that you can be proud of!
He’s used something that I can’t control for His good and has blessed me beyond anything I could ever imagine. Not despite my migraines, but rather because of them.
If that’s not something to rejoice about, I don’t know what is! So I challenge you to find the blessing in your struggles!
He wants us to be a light for others.
Not one of us has lived without trials and challenges in our life. When we’ve gotten through to the other side and see that God brought us through it, we can be a light for others to not only help them through their troubles but to bring them closer to God.
One of my favorite quotes about being a light for God is from C.S. Lewis:
Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you others can see Him.
Before stepping out each and every day, I ask God to use me, to shine through me so that others can see Him.
I challenge you, my friend, to start each morning by asking God to help you be invisible so that He can be visible through you.
I’ve given you a handful of reasons why you should spend quiet time with God today, but it can all be summed up by one thing.
He wants to have a relationship with you. He created you to live this life with Him by your side, as your loving friend that will guide you, teach you, and give you more than you could have ever dreamed possible.
I know it can be tough to find time for God, so meet me back here next week and I’ll share some of my favorite ways to do this!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Be sure to say hello while you’re here.
Until next time, my friend…….
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Learning how to put our complete trust in God isn’t easy. We say we trust God, but what we really mean is that we trust Him for what we want, when we want it. At Footprints of Inspiration we uncover who you are and why you were created; how to walk in healing through forgiveness; and how to go before the Lord with confidence. Through this journey, you’ll discover that it truly is possible to experience peace, even in the hardest times in your life.
Tammy Rotzoll is the founder and owner of Footprints of Inspiration and podcast host at A Faithful God Podcast (which can be found on your favorite podcast player). She lives in Virginia with her husband and together they’re learning how to navigate their fun, new adventure as empty nesters.
Join Tammy and the FOI community and discover the freedom that comes from saying, “Heck yeah, God! I’m all in!”
Thank you for this message. Very inspirational. I am dealing wirh so much but still it is so small compared to what others maybe going through. Thank God for his grace and mercy and for knowing our hearts
Hi Geraldine. Thanks for taking time to stop by the blog and for reaching out. It’s amazing how God knows exactly what we need. You’re struggles may not be as bad as someone else, but it’s still a struggle. Keep turning to God and I know He will help you through it. Blessings to you.