One of the all-time favorite "Andy Griffith Shows" centered around a movie company wanting to use Mayberry for a shoot. The towns people were all excited, Barney even bought a brand new deputy uniform! When the representative from the company returned to Mayberry it was all he could do to remember their names. While he knew some of their faces (particularly Barney's), he really didn't know them.
This is not the kind of relationship we are to have with God. He wants us to have a first-name-basis kind of relationship
Why Should We Spend Time with God?
1. God desires for us to get to know Him.
(In your Bible, read Genesis 1:26-31.)
Being made in the image of God gives humanity a unique quality shared with no other part of creation. Many have debated over exactly what this image includes, but all agree that it infers the ability to have a relationship with God. This "image" points to our purpose in creation--to know God personally.
2. Paul gave us an example.
(In your Bible, read Philippians 3:10.)
There are a variety of ways we can know something. There is intuitive knowledge-things like hunger (no one really has to tell you when you are hungry). There is factual knowledge-2 plus 2 equals 4, George Washington was the first US President, trees are made of wood. Then there is knowledge from experience-knowing fire burns because you have been burnt before (you KNOW and FEEL this knowledge). It is this last kind of knowledge that Paul was referring to in Philippians. It is one thing to know facts about someone, it is another thing to KNOW that person.
3. Jesus invited us to a relationship.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." --Revelation. 3:20
He used the picture of two friends sitting down for supper to catch up on things. The God who created everything, the all-powerful God, wants to sit down and visit with you and I just like we would do for a meal with our very best friend.
4. It’s how we live as a follower of Christ.
Have you ever noticed couples who have been married for a long time? Some of them walk alike, they may talk alike, they may even look like each other. One can give the other a certain look and their spouse knows exactly what they are thinking.
Christ invites us to be a follower of His (Luke 9:23), an imitator (see Ephesians 5:1). This means we take on His character and His thoughts. Paul called this being "transformed" (see Romans 12:1-2). This transformation, or change in our life, continues the rest of our life as we get to know God more and more. The more we spend time with God, the more we will imitate Him in our lives.
How Do I Develop a Time Alone with God?
Here are a few practical suggestions for establishing a daily time alone with God.
Place - Set aside a location where you can be alone and where distractions can be minimized. Time - When you are at your best and most alert. Plan - Have a plan or outline of how you're going to study your bible, meditate, and pray. Process - Having a set routine can help you establish this discipline.
Here is one routine that may help you:
Ready - say a simple prayer, asking God to show you something to help you face the day and become more like Him.
Read - a portion of Scripture (depends upon the plan you are using)
Respond - ask yourself what does this Scripture mean to me?
A tool that may help could be to ask the following questions:
Is there a Sin to confess?
Is there a Promise to claim?
Is there an Attitude to change?
Is there a Command to obey?
Is there an Example to follow?
Remember - write down your thoughts and discoveries and look at them through the day (or the next day as the case may be). You may want to share what you have discovered with a friend.
The important thing is to take time out of your day and spend it with God. You can never be all God intends you to be without spending time with Him.
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