Is it as an obligation or a religious act? Or even a habit?
Or is it simply "because I love you, Lord, I want to spend this time simply getting to know you- to learn what you think, how your voice sounds, and simply to know you more intimately than I did before."
When we want to get to know a new friend better, we spend time with them- simply being with them is a way to "learn them"- they're likes, dislikes, dreams and aspirations.
It should be the same with our Lord.
Once our quiet times with God become a burden or a habit, it's time to step back and examine our hearts. It is a small misstep from true devotion to religious obligation. Let us become truly in love with Jesus, by loving him and serving him, not simply because of what he has done for us, but because he is our friend.
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." --Jesus, John 15:15
Furthermore, knowing God as a friend and believing in him causes our faith in Him to grow. Abraham believed God's word, when God told him that he would have a son even though his wife was too old to bear children, and Abraham was old enough that he was "as good as dead."
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[a] and he was called God's friend.
(James 2:23)
I desire to be a "friend of God" rather than a servant (who really wants to be thought of as a servant anyways?), and to know God's thoughts as my own.
Lord, let us know you as you truly are, not as some religious father figure who is far away or any other wrong views we may have of you, but as the God who cares for us as our closest friend. Let us learn of you, not simply by reputation, through stories that others have told us, but by the experience of hearing your voice as you speak to us individually. Remove the limitations that we continually place upon you; blow away the expectations that we have of you. Let us begin to realize that you will come and work in our lives in such a way that we are completely undone in your presence.
(James 2:23)
I desire to be a "friend of God" rather than a servant (who really wants to be thought of as a servant anyways?), and to know God's thoughts as my own.
Lord, let us know you as you truly are, not as some religious father figure who is far away or any other wrong views we may have of you, but as the God who cares for us as our closest friend. Let us learn of you, not simply by reputation, through stories that others have told us, but by the experience of hearing your voice as you speak to us individually. Remove the limitations that we continually place upon you; blow away the expectations that we have of you. Let us begin to realize that you will come and work in our lives in such a way that we are completely undone in your presence.
1 comment:
So timely...the same types of things have been running through my mind and heart too recently. Thanks for posting!
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