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It’s important to spend time alone with God, especially as a new believer.
When you think more about it, it makes sense. How do you get to know a new friend? By spending time with them, of course. It works the same way with God. You’ll learn more about him if you spend time alone with him.
Here’s why you need to spend time alone with God.
Spending Time With God Bible Verses
The Bible teaches to draw near to God’s presence, which means we should be spending time with him.
Here are some Bible verses about spending time with God:
- Matthew 6:22 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” (ESV).
- James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” (ESV).
- Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (ESV).
- 1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (ESV).
- Phillippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” (ESV).
- John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing,” (NIV).
Importance of Spending Time With God
Why is it important to spend time with God?
There’s a difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Here’s an analogy. As Americans, we know who the president is but we don’t know him personally. We know about the president but we don’t really know him.
Here’s what the Bible says about knowing God:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV).
Examine yourself and see where you stand. It’s easy to be self-deceived and think you’re in right standing before God. But really take a moment to think about it.
Do you know about God or do you truly know him in a personal and intimate way?
This is important. You don’t want to stand before God and hear him say, “I never knew you”.
Benefits of Spending Time With God
There are many benefits to spending time with God. Some of these benefits include:
- Being at peace with God
- Having a deeper intimacy with God
- Being fully satisfied in God
- Learning more about God
- Experiencing his presence
You’ll never regret spending regular time with God. As you learn more about him, you’ll desire to draw closer and closer.
How to Spend More Time With God
Carving out time for God is important because it’s nourishment for your soul. Here’s how to spend more time with God.
#1 Spend more time with God through prayer.
Start by spending more time in prayer. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thes 5:17 ESV).
Jesus would often withdraw from others to pray to the Father (Luke 5:16). It’s good to get away from distractions to be alone with God. It’s easier to hear God in the silence rather than during the busyness of life. Find a place where you can be alone with God and pray.
We can’t always be alone though. Life requires us to be around others and doing other things. You can fulfill praying without ceasing by praying throughout the day, whether out loud or in your mind. You don’t need to go to a place to pray. You can pray wherever you are.
#2 Spend more time with God through his word.
God’s word is how we hear from God. The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).
You can’t know a person without spending time with them. The way we spend time with God and get to know him is through his word. It’s where you learn about who he is.
#3 Spend more time with God through fasting.
Fasting is a great way to draw near to God. The Bible says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you,” (James 4:8 ESV).
Fasting is a time where you devote yourself to abstaining from food and/or other things in order to grow closer to the Lord. Fasting is a spiritual discipline practiced by many characters in the Bible, including Jesus himself.
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