Devotions... Solitude... Meditative Prayer... Quiet Time... God Time... These are all words describing the same thing: time spent in communion with God... Just you and Him.
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It seems lately that there's been a lot of emphasis put on Christian community. That is: time spend with God in the presence of others (or vice verse). And rightly so... God designed us to experience community, and so much so, that our relationship with Him works best when community with other humans is part of our experience.
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But is it enough? Can't our relationship with God survive if we go to church and youth group regularly? ...Perhaps. But there's a big difference between surviving and thriving.
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Yes, God made us to experience Him within community. But that community can never replace the one on one, intimate relationship between us and Him. A great way to get at this in your own life is to ask the question, "What if you were to remove all the Christian people, "programs" and services I'm a part of...? Would my relationship with God still remain?"
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So where do we start? What does this "one on one" relationship look like?
The late theologian Henri Nouwen once wrote that it was in his daily God Time where he got rid of his scaffolding... Scaffolding is what painters or construction workers use to reach high places. Think of it as an artificial tower made to help the them do their jobs. Nouwen was using it as a metaphor for the things in his life that he used to sort of "prop himself up", or, in other words, the things that made him feel like he had value.
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For me, I prop myself up with thoughts of what others think of me. Am I smart? Funny? Nice? Do people generally like me? Am I respected? During the times when the answer is yes, I can be flying as high as a kite. I feel really good about myself. I'm high on my scaffolding. But during the times the answer is no, and my scaffolding has crumbled, I can be bummed out and depressed.
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So what does scaffolds and what people think of me have to do with "God Time"?
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Everything. See, what Henri Nouwen was getting at is that when we spend consistent, daily time with God, we begin to be shaped by Him. We begin to see things how He sees them, for what they really are. And that includes ourselves. In the midst of spending time with God each day, I begin to experience His love and grace for me. I begin to really believe that He made me for a purpose and am strengthened to embrace and live out that purpose. I begin to see myself for who I really am.
.
And day by day, God tares down my scaffolding piece by piece. I no longer need the opinions of others to give me value. My scaffolding becomes useless.
.
More than anything else, we are designed to be in relationship with God. And when we experience Him genuinely and continually, He does all kinds of stuff in and through us (not just getting rid of our scaffolding).
.
Do you spend time with God each day? Are you shaped by His love? Or are you being shaped by other things?
.
Perhaps you might consider taking this little challenge: For the next 30 days, spend 5-10 with God. If you need any pointers on where to start, consider reading a chapter of the Bible each day, and/or praying (sharing with God whatever is on your mind), and/or writing down your prayers to God (prayer journeying), and/or reading through a daily devotional.
.
Here are a couple links to help you get started: One is the link to Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest"... One of the best devotionals out there. Second, is the link to Life Journal, a site that helps you begin daily time with God through journaling, prayer and reading the Bible. Once there, click on the "how to journal" link in the top right hand corner.
.
It seems lately that there's been a lot of emphasis put on Christian community. That is: time spend with God in the presence of others (or vice verse). And rightly so... God designed us to experience community, and so much so, that our relationship with Him works best when community with other humans is part of our experience.
.
But is it enough? Can't our relationship with God survive if we go to church and youth group regularly? ...Perhaps. But there's a big difference between surviving and thriving.
.
Yes, God made us to experience Him within community. But that community can never replace the one on one, intimate relationship between us and Him. A great way to get at this in your own life is to ask the question, "What if you were to remove all the Christian people, "programs" and services I'm a part of...? Would my relationship with God still remain?"
.
So where do we start? What does this "one on one" relationship look like?
The late theologian Henri Nouwen once wrote that it was in his daily God Time where he got rid of his scaffolding... Scaffolding is what painters or construction workers use to reach high places. Think of it as an artificial tower made to help the them do their jobs. Nouwen was using it as a metaphor for the things in his life that he used to sort of "prop himself up", or, in other words, the things that made him feel like he had value.
.
For me, I prop myself up with thoughts of what others think of me. Am I smart? Funny? Nice? Do people generally like me? Am I respected? During the times when the answer is yes, I can be flying as high as a kite. I feel really good about myself. I'm high on my scaffolding. But during the times the answer is no, and my scaffolding has crumbled, I can be bummed out and depressed.
.
So what does scaffolds and what people think of me have to do with "God Time"?
.
Everything. See, what Henri Nouwen was getting at is that when we spend consistent, daily time with God, we begin to be shaped by Him. We begin to see things how He sees them, for what they really are. And that includes ourselves. In the midst of spending time with God each day, I begin to experience His love and grace for me. I begin to really believe that He made me for a purpose and am strengthened to embrace and live out that purpose. I begin to see myself for who I really am.
.
And day by day, God tares down my scaffolding piece by piece. I no longer need the opinions of others to give me value. My scaffolding becomes useless.
.
More than anything else, we are designed to be in relationship with God. And when we experience Him genuinely and continually, He does all kinds of stuff in and through us (not just getting rid of our scaffolding).
.
Do you spend time with God each day? Are you shaped by His love? Or are you being shaped by other things?
.
Perhaps you might consider taking this little challenge: For the next 30 days, spend 5-10 with God. If you need any pointers on where to start, consider reading a chapter of the Bible each day, and/or praying (sharing with God whatever is on your mind), and/or writing down your prayers to God (prayer journeying), and/or reading through a daily devotional.
.
Here are a couple links to help you get started: One is the link to Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest"... One of the best devotionals out there. Second, is the link to Life Journal, a site that helps you begin daily time with God through journaling, prayer and reading the Bible. Once there, click on the "how to journal" link in the top right hand corner.
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