Ponder This: What things do you have in place to make meeting with the living God a priority in your life?
Scripture To Consider: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? -Psalm 42:2
Tom's Response: There are many ways to meet with God. Common ways are reading the Bible, listening to worship music or being out in nature. A great tool I use is Jesus Calling. Whether I wake up at 4 AM and can't fall back asleep, or it's the first thing I read in the morning to get me talking to Jesus. Jesus Calling is like a conversation starter with Jesus starting the conversation. Yesterdays reading began with Jesus sharing He is involved in every moment of my life and asking me to stay conscious of Him. Today's reading Jesus asked me to relax and be still while he transformed my heart and mind. Learning to be still is a goal of mine this year. I failed miserably this morning. Darn squirrels.
Another thing I do is keep a journal of the books I have read. I take notes on things that really stand out as things you would want to share with both non-believers and believers. The first two sentences in my notebook come from "More Than A Carpenter." The author Josh McDowell says, "Religion is humans trying to work their way to God through good works. Christianity is God coming to men and women through Jesus Christ." This is what makes Christianity different. It's relational. Our loving God is by our side at all times and we do our best to love him with all our heart, soul and mind.
Karen's Response: Many years ago, at a women’s retreat, the speaker invited us to close our eyes and picture Jesus walking up to us, sitting down beside us, and asking what is going on in our lives. This simple activity was life-changing for me. It reminded me that when I pray, I am speaking to a living, personal God who is present with me. Over the years, I have practiced this spiritual discipline, and now it has become routine. Most often I see Jesus sitting beside me as a close friend as we talk together- remembering that He said, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Other times, when I need to feel His power and sovereignty, I imagine walking into the throne room of heaven and laying down my problems at His feet. And when I am tired, weary, or in need of comfort, I picture myself being held safely in His hands, welcoming the invitation found in Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. When my soul thirsts for God, and I meet Him in intentional prayer, I become deeply aware of His presence and His care for me.
Being in Scripture is another big part of how I meet with God. Individually and in my small group, I love diving deep into His Word, which reminds me that God is living and active. I am continually encouraged by how passages written thousands of years ago still speak directly into my life and circumstances today. I trust that as soon as I open my Bible and give Him my full attention, God will meet me there, speaking truth, life, and direction into my heart.
