Read Matthew Chapter 14:22-23
“I Don’t Have Time To Spend With God,” Is Not An Excuse!
After a very very very long day of ministering to around 15,000 people, and then feeding them, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side. Then Jesus sent the multitudes away. After sending them away he went up a Mountain by himself to pray. He was there alone.
Look at the progression of decisions Jesus made after ministering to a large crowd so He could be alone with God.
Decision 1: IMMEDIATELY he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side.
Decision 2: Jesus SENT AWAY the multitudes.
Decision 3: Jesus ISOLATED himself by going up the mountain by himself.
Decision 4: Jesus PRAYED and did so into the night.
Have you ever had long hard days when you couldn’t wait to be done? Or have you ever had a long hard day and felt you needed to get alone with God but you don’t because you’re “too busy?”
How many hours or days do you push yourself before you say, “I need alone time with God. I need revitalized or energized.”
Perhaps you need to be more intentional about setting aside time with the Lord. To do so may take a progression of decisions like Jesus took. For example:
Decision 1: STOP! You completed a task, don’t start a new one.
Decision 2: IMMEDIATELY begin preparations to get alone with God. Jesus did so by sending his disciples and the multitudes away. Perhaps, you need to immediately push yourself away from what you’re doing, or push your paperwork away, or tell your friends you have an appointment [with God] and can’t meet with them.
Decision 3: ISOLATE yourself to a new area so you have no distractions. Where is that place for you? For me it’s a walk in a field or woods. My office is a good place if it’s real early in the morning when nobody is up.
Decision 4: Finally, SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD! Spend time praising and thanking him for all he has done or is doing. Pray and share what’s on your heart. Pray for strength or wisdom or for the needs of others. Pray for the hurts and pains of life. Read the Bible as a way of letting God speak to you.
It’s easy for me to get alone with God everyday in the morning at my house because I have been very intentional about saving that time for me and the Lord.
Sometimes I feel insulted when someone says they can’t spend time alone with God because they’re too busy. As if to be saying, if I had your schedule I would have time. Honestly, I’m very busy but I’ve made a lot of sacrifices over the years, and I mean a lot of sacrifices, (and I’m glad I did), just so I could spend time alone with God In Prayer and in the Word. I’m not complaining! I’m just saying, “I’m too busy” is not a good excuse. I don’t say that in a mean way but say it in a LOVING but CHALLENGING way.
Blessings!
