An Appointment with God (1 Timothy 4:6-8)

Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-8

When I recommitted my life to the Lord over 22 years ago, I was quite sporadic in my Bible study. And I’d go days without really spending time in prayer. After a few years of this, I found myself neglecting my relationship with my Lord more and more … and falling back into old habits.

I recognized—very clearly—that I needed to spend daily time with God. That I needed to be disciplined. And for me, that meant I needed to set an appointment with God. Every day.

Now, 17 or so years later, I still make a daily appointment with the Lord. Every day. I literally have it on my calendar. It’s the most important part of my day. It’s my daily nourishment, and I miss it if, for some reason, I’m not able to meet with Him.

I know it’s hard sometimes to carve out quality time with God. We’re all so very busy. But I also know, for me at least, if I don’t, I’m much more easily distracted by the world’s enticements. And I desire, more than anything, to grow in faith and draw closer to my Abba Father.

I can’t emphasize it enough: If you want to grow in godliness, if you want that “promise [that is] for the present life and also for the life to come,” you need to spend time every day with God.

Every day.

Focus. Time. Effort. (Colossians 1:28-29)

Today's scripture: Colossians 1:28-29

While we're on earth, we who follow Christ have one mission: glorify God, proclaiming His goodness, sharing His truth.

In order to do that, we must know His word, and in order to that, we must study and meditate on it. Daily. In fact, to use a word from Paul, we must labor in learning God's word. While in the context of these verses, Paul is referring to "admonishing ... and teaching every man ...," I believe that word also applies to our study of God's word in order to proclaim Him well.

To labor means to "exert one's powers of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort" (Merriam-Webster online). Now I certainly don't find studying God's word painful, but I do find myself needing to "exert" my mind with "strenuous [defined: "vigorously active") effort." To really understand and apply God's word, yes to admonish and teach, but to proclaim Him, takes focus. And time. And effort.

And it can't be a short skim through a verse or two although any time in the Bible is certainly worthwhile. Throughout God's word, we learn of how we can labor to know God's word.

Psalm 1:2 tells us we're to "delight" in and "meditate on [God's word] day and night." Then Joshua 1:8 says we're not to allow His word to "depart from [our] mouth ..." And, again, we're to "meditate on it day and night." Finally, Psalm 119:97 says we're to "love [God's] law" and "meditate on it all the day."

That's how we labor to know God's word. That's how we're able to admonish and teach others.

That's how we can proclaim Him.

Delight in the Lord (Psalm 40:6-8)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:6-8

Sometimes, we Christ-followers focus on all the things we do. We go to church. We tithe. We read our Bibles. We pray. We serve the community. We're doing, doing, doing. Then we pat ourselves on the back and say, "Look at everything we're doing for you, God."

You know something? I'm not certain He's all that impressed. In fact, according to today's verses (and others like it), God doesn't "desire" our sacrifices and offerings.

What does He want instead? He wants us to surrender to Him. He wants us to "delight to do [His] will." He wants us to keep His "law within [our] heart[s]." Hosea 6:6 tells us that we should "delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." God wants us to love Him and others: "love Him with all the heart and understanding and strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark12:33).

Sometimes, we get so caught in doing that we neglect to just be. Just being in His presence, listening to His voice, desiring His will.

Delighting in Him.

I don't know about you, but I want to delight Him ... and so, I'm going to spend some time with Him. Delighting in His presence.

I invite you to do the same.

Meditate and Be Still (Psalm 4:4b)

Today's scripture: Psalm 4:4b: "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still."

I love today's verse. I really, truly to.

First, I love how I'm given permission to "meditate ... on [my] bed ..."! So many days, all I want to do is curl into a little ball and pull the covers over my head. Often, I'll have my time of Bible study and prayer in bed, and I love that I'm able to spend time with the Lord and still rest my body. God meets me where I am, and if that's my bed, then He's okay with that. Besides, the psalmist says I can!

Second, I love the reminder that we are to "be still." We live such hectic, busy lives. Running here and there. Work. Committees. Kids' activities. Friends. Family. Ministry. Church.

So many things vie for our attention. Sometimes, we get so lost in the noise that we forget to listen for the most important voice: God's. A few years ago, I wrote a book based on a retreat talk I give, and in it I wrote:

The most important thing about listening for God’s voice is that, in order for Him to be heard, you must be silent. God doesn’t want to compete with the world’s noise, nor should He. We know God, we hear His voice, in the stillness, in the quiet. (The Best Laid Plans © 2005 Sauni Rinehart, All Rights Reserved)

Being still, just being quiet in God's presence is a gift. It's something we must do if we want to hear God's voice.

So, now you've been given permission: Spend time today (whether on your bed or not!) in quiet meditation of God's word. Quiet your heart and mind, and be still. Listen for God's voice.

He'll speak to you in those quiet moments.

Cease Striving (Psalm 46:10-11)

Today's scripture: Psalm 46:10-11

The psalmist nicely wraps up with today’s verses. He starts with a very important command: “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Other translations say, “Be still …” Or as the Contemporary English Version says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God!”

I often speak on God’s plans for our lives, and I always spend some time on how we hear God’s voice. I use this verse as an important guideline. We must be still. We must cease striving to do things on our own. That’s how we begin to hear the voice of our Lord.

Being still is hard for some of us, myself included. But I can tell you from experience, when I sit silently before God’s throne and pray for all distractions to leave my heart and mind, it’s then when I feel God’s presence intimately. It’s then when I hear His voice speaking softly to my heart.

It’s hard to cease striving or be still or calm down in our crazy, hectic world. But may I encourage you? Take a moment today to just be still in the presence of your Father. It’ll change your life. I guarantee it!

Out of the Pit ... and On Solid Rock (Psalm 40:1-2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:1-2

In the "perfect storm" that is my current life, I need to spend some time in the Psalms. I invite you to spend some time with me as I meditate on a couple of my favorites. For the next few days, let's look at Psalm 40.

I feel so tremendously blessed that we Christ-followers serve a personal God. Unlike other belief systems where the god or gods they serve are out "there" somewhere, our God is with us, and He hears us when we call to Him. He hears our cries.

When we feel like we've descended to the bottom of a "horrible pit," He lifts us up and sets us on a solid "rock," the rock of faith and grace and strength that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

I mentioned the "perfect storm" I'm in, and yesterday, I felt rather "pit-ish." Stress and an over-loaded plate made me more emotional than usual, and even the smallest things set me off. I grumbled and complained ... if only to myself.

Then I recognized something very, very important: I hadn't spent time with the Lord. While I had meditated on the last verses of John for the morning's devotional, I hadn't had my quiet time, just sitting at the feet of my Lord. So I stopped what I was doing and rested in His presence for a while. In those moments, He reminded me how blessed I am, how I am able to do something I love, and how this "perfect storm" is temporary.

He lifted me out of that "horrible pit" of stress and frustration, and set me on the solid rock of His faithfulness.

What pit are you in today? Cry out to God, lift up your hands, and let Him set you on His solid rock.

Our God Reigns! (Psalm 99:1)

Today's scripture: Psalm 99:1

The Lord God reigns! He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. He is just and holy and righteous. He is good and full of compassion.

We should tremble in His presence—perhaps not literally, but certainly figuratively. We should be so in awe of Him that our hearts shake with humility. Yet how often do we—do I—take Him for granted.

I’m especially convicted as I write these words this morning. So often, I treat my daily time with the Lord as just another task to complete. Instead of anticipating this time with joy, humility, and gratitude, I rush through it, just to get it done. I’m certainly not trembling in awe.

The fact that I can come to the sovereign, reigning Lord and spend time with Him is amazing. I should come to Him on my knees in wonder and awe. The God of the universe wants to listen to my voice and speak to my heart. And He wants to do the same with you.

Oh, Lord, forgive me for taking You for granted, for not trembling in Your presence. Help me, Holy Spirit, to come to the foot of the throne without distractions—every day.