Is It Necessary to Meet with God?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV - Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Keep Reading...

Isn't God always with me? Must I set aside time each day to meet with him? Why is a quiet time with God so important? These can be common questions, asked often in our minds and only sometimes with our voice. We know that meeting with God is a good, religious practice. But, often, these times can feel a bit dry and lifeless. After a while, desire is lost for the meeting. Our times with God grow few and far between.

The first and greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Love takes intentional, focused time. It is something that requires time and attention. God's greatest desire is that we love him… not that we follow a list of rules. So, why is it necessary to meet with God? Love is kindled and grown in these times.

If the last time I showed love to my wife was 20 years ago at our wedding, our relationship today would be non-existent or in name only. In the same way, it takes the daily speaking and receiving of love with God to truly deepen in relationship with him. There are no shortcuts to growing love.

Jesus himself found it necessary to meet with his Father. Luke 2:49; Matthew 14:23 Jesus told us that he never made up his own teaching or ministry. He got everything from his Father. John 5:19; 6:16 Jesus actually needed his Father. He needed these rich times of fellowship for his own comfort and direction. If Jesus (the Creator of the heavens and earth) thought it necessary to meet with his Father, don't you think it would be necessary for you as well?

How is it possible that we can go for long stretches of time without intentional meetings with God? Are we really living then? Or are we only surviving, trying our best to do good things and staying away from trouble? You see, if we neglect our meetings with God, we will soon lose meaning, purpose and energy for living.

Questions

• Do you treat your times with God (quiet time, meeting with God) as necessary?
• Think about a good time for an intentional meeting with God each day. Commit to make that meeting.

Application

• Make your daily meeting with God an immovable priority. Show your love for God through intentionally putting other things aside (sleep, friends, work) just to meet with him.