Enriching Your Time Alone with God

By Dr. Charles Stanley

Has this ever been your experience? You sit down in a quiet place with your Bible, ready to have a devotional time with the Lord. But you feel aimless; you don't have a plan in mind. You flip through the pages and finally settle on a Psalm. Then you glance at your watch and remember another appointment. Before you get up, you say a quick prayer and tell yourself that you will pray more later—but that never happens.

If you are frustrated with the quality of your quiet times, you are certainly not alone. Having a close relationship with Jesus seems so far away sometimes. Think about this: as much as you desire real intimacy with your personal Savior, He longs for it even more. James 4:8 offers this assurance: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

What would benefit you greatly is some direction and encouragement from others who have a close walk with Christ. Many books and devotional guides offer Bible reading plans, some for reading the Bible in a year and others topically. It's critical to have a method in advance. Yes, there are times when God leads you away from your intended study to something special, but a specific goal will help you focus on His Word daily.

Whatever you choose, select a plan that fits your lifestyle and level of understanding. Remember, though, that spending time with God does not ever just "fit in" to your day's routine. You must schedule and then jealously guard that time. The more you honor that appointment, the greater your desire to protect it, and the greater your enrichment.

Have you ever run across words or passages that you do not understand? Instead of waiting until later to consider the issues, sit down with a Bible dictionary and concordance or other study aids already in hand. You may not resolve your question completely, but seeking His truth on your own is a valuable process.

Maybe financially you are unable to purchase your own Bible study tools. Never give up—seek other options. Some churches have libraries where you can borrow what you need, as do selected public libraries. Several Web sites now offer complimentary access to on-line Bible dictionaries, concordances and commentaries. Or ask your pastor or church associate if he has materials you may use. The body of Christ should be eager to help you in this pursuit.

As you read the Bible, have a notebook and pen ready to write a spiritual journal. Some people keep a prayer journal and record their daily prayers, leaving a space to go back and write in how God answered them. You may prefer a spiritual growth format, in which you write down a special verse and why it impacted you. If you have kept a journal before, you know what a treat it is to read back and see an overview of your journey.

Are you ready for a relationship with Jesus that knows no boundaries? Open your time, your life, your heart, and expect the Lord's involvement.

Copyright 2012 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

Very encourging! I so needed to read this. Thanks for posting.