Aren’t you tired of feeling uncertain in these days? I know I am. We never know what the next news cycle brings, but we’re learning to expect something less than inspiring! (So, really, what did happen to the murder hornets? I want to know!) In these times of uneasiness and with an undercurrent of frustration with our national situation, Christians turn to God for comfort and direction. Truthfully, I cannot imagine going through troubled times without my faith in God, who offers an eternally brighter future that cannot be tarnished by any circumstance I may face during my temporary time here on planet earth.
A Christian’s dependence upon God is based upon the relationship he has with God, Himself. This relationship is established when a person accepts the gift of eternal life offered through Jesus’ forgiveness of sins. When one admits his personal guilt in rebelling against God and accepts the gift of God’s grace, he is a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. Upon receiving this gift, he follows God, serving Him as Lord. It’s not about a specific prayer or perfect church attendance. It’s really about a relationship.
A healthy relationship requires good communication. Imagine marrying someone and never speaking! (Hold the jokes about “old married couples,” please.) Seriously, of what value is relationship without communication? Why do we think we can be in a healthy relationship with God and not practice good communication? So, how does one communicate with God for comfort and guidance? Well, God speaks to us through the Bible, prayer, impressions on the heart, and other Christians. We cannot communicate with God without taking time to do slow down and spend time doing just that.
If you’ve grown up in church or if you’re part of the church culture, it’s possible you’ve fallen into the understanding that it’s necessary to have a “quiet time” with God each day. This is usually described as a daily time of devotional Bible reading, prayer, and contemplation/meditation on God’s Word. While this is good, perhaps it has inadvertently become a checklist of activity, rather than a further development and deepening of a genuine relationship with God.
After decades of youth camps, teaching, writing, and interactions with believers, I’ve found most of us nod our heads and tip our hats toward the idea of good communication with God as we simultaneously elevate its importance. Who can disagree that time with God is good? In practice, however, few of us exceed minimalism in this area. Most squeeze this time into a crowded schedule, call it “done,” and then spend the day in guilt, knowing the minimum has been met and the checklist has been completed. This leaves us empty and unchanged.
Our daily emptiness is observed by those who watch our actions as believers and look for affirmation of the difference we proclaim. We can lead a constant frustrated “Romans 7” life, doing that which we don’t desire and not doing the things we desire. Unbelievers don’t know a label for a frustrated believer, but they instantly recognize inconsistency. We become disappointed with ourselves and the guilt compiles further. If this portrayal resonates with you, know that it resonates with your author, as well. None of us are exempt from days or seasons of this scenario.
Richard Foster, in Celebration of Discipline, writes, “Our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us in ‘muchness’ and ‘manyness,’ he will rest satisfied.” For the hurried believer, this realization is greatly necessary. To counteract this, we must simplify, create margin in life, and rest in the Lord, rather than rush to the Lord.
Sometimes we simply come to God with a list of personal requests. We should not seek God just to have our own needs fulfilled. That seems a bit selfish, does it not? Remember, we are to serve God, not seek his services. We must seek to know God and to really grow in our relationship with Him in order to know His will. We must adjust our lives to His will instead of seeking the American dream concept of a perfect, “Ken and Barbie” Christian existence. Dallas Willard, in Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, writes, “I fear that many people seek to hear God solely as a device for obtaining their own safety, comfort and sense of being righteous. For those who busy themselves to know the will of God, however, it is still true that ‘those who want to save their life will lose it'” (Mt 16:25).
So, what does this all mean? Christians must develop a daily conversational relationship with God. Developing a conversational relationship with God is greater than spending “quiet time” with Him and rushing out to face the day. We need to be well-equipped for the day. The beginning of the day should bring a time of refreshing a relationship with the God with whom you walked yesterday and trusted through the night. Moving through the day should be a conversation that continues from the, “good morning, Lord,” moments that began earlier. Constantly being aware of abiding in Him leads to continual awareness of living in front of Him and adjusting our actions, words, responses, and schedules to His ways and His will for how we live life in front of others.
We must seek to know God and to really grow in our relationship with Him in order to know His will. We must adjust our lives to His will instead of seeking the American dream concept of a perfect, “Ken and Barbie” Christian existence. Dallas Willard, in Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God, writes, “I fear that many people seek to hear God solely as a device for obtaining their own safety, comfort and sense of being righteous. For those who busy themselves to know the will of God, however, it is still true that ‘those who want to save their life will lose it'” (Mt 16:25).
We must develop a daily conversational relationship with God. Developing a conversational relationship with God is greater than spending “quiet time” with Him and rushing out to face the day. The beginning of the day should bring a time of refreshing a relationship with the God with whom you walked yesterday, and trusted through the night. Moving through the day should be a conversation that continues from the, “good morning, Lord,” moments that began earlier. Constantly being aware of abiding in Him leads to continual awareness of living in front of Him and adjusting our actions, words, responses, and schedules to His ways and His will for how we live life in front of others.
In these frustrating times, I pray that you develop good communication with God, who has all the answers, knows the outcome, and loves you. I pray for peace in your life and in your home. I sure am looking for the conclusion of the craziness. We’ll make it through these times together, with God’s help.
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