Based on an idea by Dr. Wayne J. Gerber
For the disciple of Christ it is important to share in the life of the church together with the other disciples, but it is also important for him to keep his connection with God as an individual believer. In this teaching we will focus on the believer’s personal relationship with God. To come to know and love someone deeply, you need to spend quality time with them. So today we will speak about the need to spend personal time with God, and the benefits of doing so. We will also see when and where other people described in the Bible had their personal communion with God, and we will think about how we ourselves can practice spending personal time with God.
DEVELOPING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
In Mark 1:35 we see the example of our Lord Jesus Christ:
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
What is Jesus showing us by His example? First, clearly for Him too, while He was in the flesh, personal communion was something exceptionally important. Jesus rose early, withdrew alone, and prayed. In this way He received guidance from the Father and spiritual strength to carry out His ministry.
In Ephesians 6:10 the apostle Paul tells us:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
How would personal time spent with God help us to live out this verse? Personal communion with God charges us with God’s power!
Time spent alone with God helps us to come to know Him better.
What do all these verses suggest to us?
THE BENEFITS OF SPENDING PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
What will happen if we set aside time for God?
1. Our soul’s thirst for God will be satisfied (Psalm 42:1-2).
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)
2. Our prayer will be heard, and we will have cheer and boldness in our soul (Psalm 138:3).
3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. (Psalm 138:3)
3. Personal time with God, the reading of His Word, is like a spiritual breakfast for our soul. Through it we receive spiritual life from God (Matthew 4:3-4).
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:3-4)
4. Spending personal time with God will deepen our love for Him and help us to better fulfill the command to love God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:35-40).
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35-40)
5. Personal time with God will help us prepare to meet the attacks of our spiritual enemies during the day (Ephesians 6:11-12).
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
6. Personal time with God will help us keep our priorities right and to think more about the things above rather than the things of earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)
And so, what will some of the benefits be if we decide to devote part of our time to personal communion with God?
- Our soul will be watered by the Holy Spirit;
- Our prayers will be heard;
- We will enjoy cheer and boldness in our soul;
- We will have our daily portion of God’s Word by which to live;
- Our love for God and for the people around us will deepen;
- We will be prepared for the attacks of the powers of the heavenly realms;
- Our priorities will not be confused, but rightly ordered.
WHEN SHOULD WE HAVE OUR PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH GOD?
At the very beginning we saw that Jesus withdrew alone with the Father early in the morning (Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42). In Psalm 5:3 we see that the psalmist too meets with God at the same time—“in the morning.”
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)
In Psalm 55:16-17 we see David praying three times a day—morning, noon, and evening.
16 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. (Psalm 55:16-17)
In Luke 6:12 we see that when important decisions had to be made—such as the choosing of the disciples—Jesus would spend the whole night in prayer to God.
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12)
In Acts 17:11 we see that the disciples of Christ examined the Scriptures “every day.”
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)
And so, when is the best time to draw near to God? Always. In Ephesians 6:18-20 it is said:
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
But perhaps it is best in the early morning, before we have taken up the labors of the day. What matters more, however, is not which time of day we set aside for God, but that we be consistent—that both prayer and the reading of the Word be for us a daily practice, something we do every day.
WHERE HAVE OTHERS SPENT PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD?
1. Out in nature
In Genesis 24:63 we see Isaac toward evening meditating as he had gone out into the field—in the open, out in nature.
63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. (Genesis 24:63)
2. In our secret room
In Matthew 6:6 Jesus encourages us to go into our “room.”
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)
3. In a solitary place outside the town
In Matthew 14:23 we see Jesus praying “on a mountainside”—on a high place outside the town.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, (Matthew 14:23)
For us in Dolno Ezerovo this is of course difficult, since there is no hill anywhere around, but if a person climbs up to pray on a high place, he can see things in perspective and reach farther horizons in his prayer.
4. In a spacious place
In Acts 10:9 we see Peter praying on the “housetop.”
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. (Acts 10:9)
Of course, when we speak of the “housetop,” we must bear in mind that this was not the roof of a Bulgarian house—sloped and covered with tiles. The architecture of houses in Palestine is different. Their roofs are flat, and in the evening people would settle on top of them, since it was cool and pleasant there.
Where is a good place to spend time with God? I would say that for each person this is different. What is common in all these cases, however, is one thing. These people shut out all outside distractions—like telephones and other such things—and withdrew alone with God.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO DURING OUR PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH GOD?
How should we spend our personal time with God?
1. Confession
One of the most important things to do during our personal time with the Lord is to confess our sins. There is no one who does not sin, but a confessed sin is a forgiven sin. In Proverbs 28:13 it is said:
13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
That is why the apostle John says in 1 John 1:6-9:
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:6-9)
2. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and seeking His guidance
In Psalm 37:7 it is said:
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)
What does this verse suggest to us? Our life must not be lived by our own strength, but by God’s grace. But God will give us His grace only if we live our lives according to His will. This means to wait until we see which way He is going and then to set out in the same direction. In Isaiah 40:30-31 it is said:
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
These verses suggest to us that we should be like sailboats that wait to see which way the wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing and set out in the same direction.
3. Praise
Besides waiting on the Lord and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, two other useful things we can do during our personal communion with God are to praise Him (with words or with songs) and to meditate on Him and on His things. In Psalm 104:33-34 it is said:
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:33-34)
4. Charging up with God’s Word
Charging up with the Word is also exceptionally important. Just as the priests had to place wood on the altar every day and keep the fire burning in the tabernacle, so we too must every day stir up the fire of our faith with verses from the Word. In Psalm 119:11 it is said:
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
5. Intercession
Another thing to do during our personal time with God is to intercede. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2 it is said:
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
So then, what are some of the things to do during our personal time with the Lord?
- Confessing our sins
- Seeking guidance from God
- Praise and worship
- Charging up with the Word
- Intercessory prayer
How do we apply everything we have learned today? By beginning to set aside time for personal communion with God. We can begin with 15 minutes in the morning—five minutes of praise, five minutes of reading, and five minutes of prayer. If you cannot set aside 15 minutes, set aside at least 5. Because even five minutes of personal communion will make a difference in your spiritual growth as disciples of Christ. If you miss a day, continue the next day. What matters is that we never stop. I want to encourage you, however, that in time this will become a good habit that will be a true blessing for us. This is exceptionally important, because personal time with the Lord is the pulse of the Christian. Without it a person sooner or later falls away.