"We need to get together." How many times have you said that to someone and you never seem to get together? Perhaps your intentions truly are to get together but life is so busy it just never happens. Then, you see them again a few weeks later and say the same thing but you know when you say it that chances are this time it will be no different.
I do this all the time. It's not that I don't want to make it happen, it's just that there are so many things screaming for my attention and most of my time is spent responding to those screams. Rarely do I have time to sit and do nothing. My schedule is as full as a freeway in Houston during rush hour. There is little time to fit something extra in. As a result, if I don't make time for someone or something, it's not likely I'll be able to squeeze them in somewhere. I rarely do life on the fly or take a spontaneous approach when it comes to my day to day living. If I am going to do something specific, or get together with someone, I have to plan it. I have to get out my calendar and pencil it in. I've learned in life that just having the desire to do something, rarely ensures that it happens. However, If I'll set a time and place for it, then it's more likely to happen.
Take me and my wife, Lori, for example. I love spending time with her. In fact, I love spending time with her more than anyone else. Yet weeks can go by without us having a date if we aren't careful. The person I love to spend time with more than anyone can actually become neglected if I am not intentional about spending time with her. It doesn't just happen. If we are going to have a date night, then we have to plan it. We have to put it on the calendar and make it happen. We have to set a time and a place.
I find this to be true regarding my time with the Lord. It doesn't just happen. I know what you're thinking, "You're a preacher! That's your job, isn't it?" First of all let me say that if my relationship with Jesus ever digresses to a place where it becomes a job, I need to reevaluate what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. While my job description does require me to prepare messages each week, if the totality of my interaction with the Lord is for the purpose of getting a message to preach then I've lost my way. I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I need to hear from Him for me. I need alone time with Him. We all need that. But it doesn't just happen because we want it or need it. It only happens when we are intentional about it. It only happens when we plan it; when we put it on the calendar. We need to set a time and a place.
We set appointments to get our hair done, to see a doctor, to make sales calls, etc. Yet most of us approach our alone time with the Lord as something we'll try to fit in somewhere during the day or week. As a result, we get our hair cut, we see our doctor, and we make that sale but at the end of the week, we are still trying to fit God in somewhere. We were created in such a way as to "need" to connect with our Creator. Not every now and then. Not whenever we can fit Him in. Our relationship with Him requires time with Him.
If you find yourself constantly trying to fit time with the Lord in somewhere, I want to challenge you to change your approach. Stop trying to find time for Him and determine to make time for Him. Get out your calendar and make an appointment. Set it in stone and make it happen. I don't know about you, but I make appointments for all the important things in my life. Why would I not do the same when it comes to the most important thing in my life? Quit saying, "We need to get together," to Jesus and determine to get together with Him.
For more on setting time apart to hear God's voice, check out Wavelength - Part 3 below:
Be sure to join us live on Facebook each Sunday at 10:30am
If you live in or near Montgomery, TX, we would love to have you join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Westlake Fellowship is located at 19786 Suite 120, Hwy 105 in Montgomery, TX. (beside Magnolia Diner)
www.westlakefellowship.org
I do this all the time. It's not that I don't want to make it happen, it's just that there are so many things screaming for my attention and most of my time is spent responding to those screams. Rarely do I have time to sit and do nothing. My schedule is as full as a freeway in Houston during rush hour. There is little time to fit something extra in. As a result, if I don't make time for someone or something, it's not likely I'll be able to squeeze them in somewhere. I rarely do life on the fly or take a spontaneous approach when it comes to my day to day living. If I am going to do something specific, or get together with someone, I have to plan it. I have to get out my calendar and pencil it in. I've learned in life that just having the desire to do something, rarely ensures that it happens. However, If I'll set a time and place for it, then it's more likely to happen.
Take me and my wife, Lori, for example. I love spending time with her. In fact, I love spending time with her more than anyone else. Yet weeks can go by without us having a date if we aren't careful. The person I love to spend time with more than anyone can actually become neglected if I am not intentional about spending time with her. It doesn't just happen. If we are going to have a date night, then we have to plan it. We have to put it on the calendar and make it happen. We have to set a time and a place.
I find this to be true regarding my time with the Lord. It doesn't just happen. I know what you're thinking, "You're a preacher! That's your job, isn't it?" First of all let me say that if my relationship with Jesus ever digresses to a place where it becomes a job, I need to reevaluate what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. While my job description does require me to prepare messages each week, if the totality of my interaction with the Lord is for the purpose of getting a message to preach then I've lost my way. I have a personal relationship with Jesus. I need to hear from Him for me. I need alone time with Him. We all need that. But it doesn't just happen because we want it or need it. It only happens when we are intentional about it. It only happens when we plan it; when we put it on the calendar. We need to set a time and a place.
We set appointments to get our hair done, to see a doctor, to make sales calls, etc. Yet most of us approach our alone time with the Lord as something we'll try to fit in somewhere during the day or week. As a result, we get our hair cut, we see our doctor, and we make that sale but at the end of the week, we are still trying to fit God in somewhere. We were created in such a way as to "need" to connect with our Creator. Not every now and then. Not whenever we can fit Him in. Our relationship with Him requires time with Him.
If you find yourself constantly trying to fit time with the Lord in somewhere, I want to challenge you to change your approach. Stop trying to find time for Him and determine to make time for Him. Get out your calendar and make an appointment. Set it in stone and make it happen. I don't know about you, but I make appointments for all the important things in my life. Why would I not do the same when it comes to the most important thing in my life? Quit saying, "We need to get together," to Jesus and determine to get together with Him.
For more on setting time apart to hear God's voice, check out Wavelength - Part 3 below:
Be sure to join us live on Facebook each Sunday at 10:30am
If you live in or near Montgomery, TX, we would love to have you join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Westlake Fellowship is located at 19786 Suite 120, Hwy 105 in Montgomery, TX. (beside Magnolia Diner)
www.westlakefellowship.org
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