I talk often of the importance of spending time with God each day, but I know I miss that mark often. I realized recently the biggest problem is not the fact that I miss the time, it's my reaction to missing the time. I feel guilty, as if I've let someone else down; as if God told me to do something and I didn't, so I've lost favor with Him. Our reaction to missing that quiet time with God should be sadness, not guilt. It's not something we have to do SO he loves us, it's something we get to do BECAUSE he loves us.
Psalm 62:1 - Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
We go to God not to check it off our to do list, but to find rest from our to do list. When we intentionally sit quietly with God, he reminds of what is important - He has saved us when we could not save ourselves. In this world we will have trouble but He has overcome the world (John 16:33), so we rest with Him to gain the power to carry on.
Psalm 46:10 - He Says "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
"Be Still" is not a command as much as it is a comfort - God saying " I've got this, it will be okay, relax, you will get through another day." Who doesn't need to hear that once in a while (or always)?
The people I know who exercise very regularly don't do it to please someone else - they do it because they are aware of how it benefits them - even when it's difficult or inconvenient. What if that was your approach to daily time with God? I can tell you this - when I look backwards, the days I set aside "God time" and intentionally trust Him through the bad stuff and thank him for the good stuff are the days that feel the best. The seasons in life where I've gotten away from that are when I end up focusing on the negative and feeling despair. And like exercise or any other improvement you seek to make in your life, there will be set backs. But dwell on the progress and the slight improvement, not the occasional back step.'
Grab the opportunities you have: 5 minutes; 20 minutes; A group Bible study; a worship service; a devotion book, a reading plan or a podcast - whatever you can to be in God's word and be still with Him. And if you miss, move on and try again the next day, Avoid the guilt - be motivated by the Joy and Peace He will provide.
Psalm 62:1 New International Version
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 46:10 New International Version
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
John 16:33 New International Version
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.