Comments on: Desire for God is the key to spiritual transformation! http://heapofstones.com/whats-new/desire-for-god-is-the-key-to-spiritual-transformation Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:14:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Rob http://heapofstones.com/whats-new/desire-for-god-is-the-key-to-spiritual-transformation/comment-page-1#comment-156 Rob Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:18:07 +0000 http://heapofstones.com/?p=381#comment-156 Ray, that's a great question and one that I've wrestled with too. Also, for those who don't know me well, I've not always been a pastor. I served in the military and worked in the corporate world for many years. I've been single, married, married with kids, and now married and a grandpa. So I know the challenges we face in various circumstances that are constantly changing. I think the key to spending time with the Lord is to constantly remind ourselves that we are cultivating a relationship with our heavenly Father. This isn't about clocking hours reading the Bible or praying. This is about growing in our relationship with God. Having said that, here's what I do: I decided that my relationship with the Lord is so important, that I must spend scheduled time with him each day. When we do this during the day really doesn't matter. I'm a morning person, so I meet with God over coffee every morning. A spend a lot of time simply sitting before him in his presence and listening to him. My prayers consist mostly of conversations that I have with Him about my day and the people I will come into contact with. I also discuss with him my challenges and thank him for his provision in my life. I constantly realign myself with him, telling him how needy and dependent I am on him. I confess my sins and invite him to change me and make him more like him. After this time of "prayer" I read the Bible. When I go to the Word, I go to meet with God. I ask him to speak to me and reveal his will and desire for my life. Sometimes I read many chapters in one sitting and other times I'm so taken by a single sentence or verse that I spend all my time on that. God reveals his character to us in his Word and I need to know his character to get to know him better and become more like him. Finally, I do spend time with him as I go about my day. What I mean by that is that I invite him into everything I do. That is, I don't want to go anywhere or do anything without him! That's what an intimate relationship is like. I enjoy him immensely and want to spend time with him wherever I go and whatever I'm doing! I hope that helps! Ray, that’s a great question and one that I’ve wrestled with too. Also, for those who don’t know me well, I’ve not always been a pastor. I served in the military and worked in the corporate world for many years. I’ve been single, married, married with kids, and now married and a grandpa. So I know the challenges we face in various circumstances that are constantly changing.

I think the key to spending time with the Lord is to constantly remind ourselves that we are cultivating a relationship with our heavenly Father. This isn’t about clocking hours reading the Bible or praying. This is about growing in our relationship with God. Having said that, here’s what I do: I decided that my relationship with the Lord is so important, that I must spend scheduled time with him each day. When we do this during the day really doesn’t matter. I’m a morning person, so I meet with God over coffee every morning. A spend a lot of time simply sitting before him in his presence and listening to him. My prayers consist mostly of conversations that I have with Him about my day and the people I will come into contact with. I also discuss with him my challenges and thank him for his provision in my life. I constantly realign myself with him, telling him how needy and dependent I am on him. I confess my sins and invite him to change me and make him more like him.

After this time of “prayer” I read the Bible. When I go to the Word, I go to meet with God. I ask him to speak to me and reveal his will and desire for my life. Sometimes I read many chapters in one sitting and other times I’m so taken by a single sentence or verse that I spend all my time on that. God reveals his character to us in his Word and I need to know his character to get to know him better and become more like him.

Finally, I do spend time with him as I go about my day. What I mean by that is that I invite him into everything I do. That is, I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything without him! That’s what an intimate relationship is like. I enjoy him immensely and want to spend time with him wherever I go and whatever I’m doing!
I hope that helps!

]]> By: Ray Edwards http://heapofstones.com/whats-new/desire-for-god-is-the-key-to-spiritual-transformation/comment-page-1#comment-154 Ray Edwards Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:46:43 +0000 http://heapofstones.com/?p=381#comment-154 Sometimes I feel too busy to "spend time with Him". I know that sounds foolish - heck, I know it IS foolish. But it's so easy for me to get caught up in busy-ness that I forget to just be with God. Or I sometimes fool myself by saying, "Well, I will spend time with Him as I go about my day." That SOUNDS nice, but in practice, I don't think it works very well for me. What do you think are some ways we can spend more time with God even amidst our busy, modern lives? Sometimes I feel too busy to “spend time with Him”.

I know that sounds foolish – heck, I know it IS foolish.

But it’s so easy for me to get caught up in busy-ness that I forget to just be with God. Or I sometimes fool myself by saying, “Well, I will spend time with Him as I go about my day.” That SOUNDS nice, but in practice, I don’t think it works very well for me.

What do you think are some ways we can spend more time with God even amidst our busy, modern lives?

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