As you read this blog, please do not jump on me. Do not think I am becoming radical or going “downhill” spiritually. The opposite is taking place as I confront issues that have been part of me all my life. What I am doing is “thinking things through.” I want to share my journey because I know there are others who are struggling with the same things. I am not saying my conclusions are right or wrong but they will help decide what is going to be helpful for me and perhaps others.
My parents became Christians when I was about 4 years of age. The change was dramatic. Their language would have been appropriate in a drunken sailor’s bar. My Dad was well known as the barman at the police social club and smoked liked a chimney. The story is told that when he became a Christian, he took his remaining alcohol and poured it down the toilet and never touched a drop until later in life. The same with tobacco. He had some at home and after using that up said he would never smoke again. He never did. The bad language stopped from both parents immediately.
As I grew up there was one thing that has stuck in my mind. Every morning at 6am Dad would get up, go to the lounge, and have his time with God. The image in my mind is him kneeling in front of the couch praying aloud. That was engraved into my DNA because when I got older, I started to set aside time with God also. For years I made sure that I had my “quiet” time with God. If I missed it which was almost never, I felt I had let him down. I dared not miss this time.
Over the past several years, and I am going to be honest here, I have been getting bored with my “quiet” time. Reading the Bible is okay although do I need to read it every day? I visit countries where the people are not educated so cannot read hence a Bible is no use to them. I also go to countries where the Bible cannot be purchased or hard to get so most Christians do not have one. How do they cope? It was not available to the public till the 15th and 16th century so what did the Christians do? I am pleased we have the Bible available to us so we can see what God requires. He can speak to us through the Bible. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God but what if I miss reading it once or twice a week? David in the Psalms says that he mediated on God’s Word, day, and night. That was not the Bible we have today but the law written down by Moses from God. So, it is important to read the Bible, but for some it is not possible. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that is in us and teaches us. This is my struggle.
How about prayer? Most of our prayers start off “Dear Jesus” and end “Amen.” The prayer can last for minutes or hours. For me, of late, I have found my prayer time boring. I pray almost word for word the same prayer every day and I am starting to question myself. I know prayer is important and I have seen amazing answers to prayer. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. It tells us we need to pray to get the strength and victory in this life but at times I feel like a parrot repeating the same things. There are times something new comes up and I find the prayer becomes more interesting but if I do not pray at a certain time, I get frustrated because I am breaking the habit. In some cases, because of circumstances, I do not pray at all. I feel I am slipping or letting God down.
I started talking to God about this as it was frustrating me. God replied “remember Adam and Eve? We just walked and talked in the garden of Eden. It was a relationship. Just friends having a good time together. Talking and listening and enjoying one another’s company.” It opened my eyes. I began to understand what a “quiet time” with God was. It is just having time with him and this can take any form. We have people who call themselves “prayer warriors” or “intercessors” who spend hours in prayer. Good on them but that is hard for me. I can talk to God during the day if I want or whenever. Some days I want to be quiet. That is okay too. Other days I will spend time with God at an appointed time but I do not have to. There are days when I feel God in me and do not pray as such but just say the odd word when I want. If it is a beautiful day I will put in my ear plugs, find some good Christian music on “YouTube,” and walk around a local park. I may speak to God as I listen to the music, stop speaking and meditate, enjoy the beautiful weather or scenery and I find this is doing wonders for me. There is an apple orchard behind where I live and I go there to walk and talk to God. If I am going to the exercise pool, I will just have my time with God as I am driving or even having a good time in the heated pool or hot spa. I just make sure the other people there do not see my lips move or they may think I am losing it and going crazy. This is my quiet time.
Some people may need to have a specific time like my dad did or others may not be able to concentrate for long periods. I have discovered that it is okay. We are all different. God just wants to be with us.
This thinking is new to me but I know something had to change. Instead of giving God a certain time in my day it is good to know he is available anytime. It is refreshing as I go for a walk and see the snow-covered mountains to tell him how great he is without it being within a confined time. When I see the lambs jumping in the green fields without a worry it gives me peace. When I listen to Christian music, I can feel close to God. That is me communicating with God.
As I said before, if what you are doing works for you then that is great, but for me, I was getting a bit dry and bored before I had it revealed that there are many factors involved in me having a “quiet time” with God. He just wants to walk with us and talk with us anytime.
I am finding a release. It is no longer a chore but something I look forward to. It does not make me more or less spiritual but it does make me connected to God.
In having a relationship with God one size does not fit all. The most important is that there is a relationship and we pursue it and never take it for granted or lose it.
So, what is my conclusion? I know reading the Bible or listening to it is very important if we can, but if I do miss there are other ways God can communicate to me. Prayer is very important but when I pray, where I pray or what I pray is not determined by length or content. It can be anytime. It is nothing for me to stress over.As you read this blog, please do not jump on me. Do not think I am becoming radical or going “downhill” spiritually. The opposite is taking place as I confront issues that have been part of me all my life. What I am doing is “thinking things through.” I want to share my journey because I know there are others who are struggling with the same things. I am not saying my conclusions are right or wrong but they will help decide what is going to be helpful for me and perhaps others.
My parents became Christians when I was about 4 years of age. The change was dramatic. Their language would have been appropriate in a drunken sailor’s bar. My Dad was well known as the barman at the police social club and smoked liked a chimney. The story is told that when he became a Christian, he took his remaining alcohol and poured it down the toilet and never touched a drop until later in life. The same with tobacco. He had some at home and after using that up said he would never smoke again. He never did. The bad language stopped from both parents immediately.
As I grew up there was one thing that has stuck in my mind. Every morning at 6am Dad would get up, go to the lounge, and have his time with God. The image in my mind is him kneeling in front of the couch praying aloud. That was engraved into my DNA because when I got older, I started to set aside time with God also. For years I made sure that I had my “quiet” time with God. If I missed it which was almost never, I felt I had let him down. I dared not miss this time.
Over the past several years, and I am going to be honest here, I have been getting bored with my “quiet” time. Reading the Bible is okay although do I need to read it every day? I visit countries where the people are not educated so cannot read hence a Bible is no use to them. I also go to countries where the Bible cannot be purchased or hard to get so most Christians do not have one. How do they cope? It was not available to the public till the 15th and 16th century so what did the Christians do? I am pleased we have the Bible available to us so we can see what God requires. He can speak to us through the Bible. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God but what if I miss reading it once or twice a week? David in the Psalms says that he mediated on God’s Word, day, and night. That was not the Bible we have today but the law written down by Moses from God. So, it is important to read the Bible, but for some it is not possible. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that is in us and teaches us. This is my struggle.
How about prayer? Most of our prayers start off “Dear Jesus” and end “Amen.” The prayer can last for minutes or hours. For me, of late, I have found my prayer time boring. I pray almost word for word the same prayer every day and I am starting to question myself. I know prayer is important and I have seen amazing answers to prayer. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. It tells us we need to pray to get the strength and victory in this life but at times I feel like a parrot repeating the same things. There are times something new comes up and I find the prayer becomes more interesting but if I do not pray at a certain time, I get frustrated because I am breaking the habit. In some cases, because of circumstances, I do not pray at all. I feel I am slipping or letting God down.
I started talking to God about this as it was frustrating me. God replied “remember Adam and Eve? We just walked and talked in the garden of Eden. It was a relationship. Just friends having a good time together. Talking and listening and enjoying one another’s company.” It opened my eyes. I began to understand what a “quiet time” with God was. It is just having time with him and this can take any form. We have people who call themselves “prayer warriors” or “intercessors” who spend hours in prayer. Good on them but that is hard for me. I can talk to God during the day if I want or whenever. Some days I want to be quiet. That is okay too. Other days I will spend time with God at an appointed time but I do not have to. There are days when I feel God in me and do not pray as such but just say the odd word when I want. If it is a beautiful day I will put in my ear plugs, find some good Christian music on “YouTube,” and walk around a local park. I may speak to God as I listen to the music, stop speaking and meditate, enjoy the beautiful weather or scenery and I find this is doing wonders for me. There is an apple orchard behind where I live and I go there to walk and talk to God. If I am going to the exercise pool, I will just have my time with God as I am driving or even having a good time in the heated pool or hot spa. I just make sure the other people there do not see my lips move or they may think I am losing it and going crazy. This is my quiet time.
Some people may need to have a specific time like my dad did or others may not be able to concentrate for long periods. I have discovered that it is okay. We are all different. God just wants to be with us.
This thinking is new to me but I know something had to change. Instead of giving God a certain time in my day it is good to know he is available anytime. It is refreshing as I go for a walk and see the snow-covered mountains to tell him how great he is without it being within a confined time. When I see the lambs jumping in the green fields without a worry it gives me peace. When I listen to Christian music, I can feel close to God. That is me communicating with God.
As I said before, if what you are doing works for you then that is great, but for me, I was getting a bit dry and bored before I had it revealed that there are many factors involved in me having a “quiet time” with God. He just wants to walk with us and talk with us anytime.
I am finding a release. It is no longer a chore but something I look forward to. It does not make me more or less spiritual but it does make me connected to God.
In having a relationship with God one size does not fit all. The most important is that there is a relationship and we pursue it and never take it for granted or lose it.
So, what is my conclusion? I know reading the Bible or listening to it is very important if we can, but if I do miss there are other ways God can communicate to me. Prayer is very important but when I pray, where I pray or what I pray is not determined by length or content. It can be anytime. It is nothing for me to stress over.