How many times do you get together with close friends with a specific agenda in mind? I'm guessing, unless there has been an issue in the relationship or you are planning something together, "agenda" is not a word you use when you meet with a close friend. We usually just appreciate the time together to fellowship, to catch up, to see where the conversation goes. It is another opportunity to knit relationship together, simply spending time.
I was reminded this week about how God delights in His people (Zephaniah 3:17), and He simply wants us to pour out our hearts to Him (Psalm 62:8), to spend time with Him (I Chronicles 16:8-12), but so many times, if I really think about it, I have an agenda when I meet with God. I usually have a list of prayer requests, or I want to learn a new truth or experience a certain emotion in order to be able to say that my time with God has been good. I want to learn to sit in God's presence, with my focus on Him (Hebrews 12:1-2), with my mind set on Who He is (Isaiah 26:3-4) just for the purpose of being in His presence and connecting.
Practically doing this is hard. We struggle to be still. We struggle to set our minds on the Lord without asking Him for something and without our own expectations. I want to encourage all of us to come into God's presence, to be still, and to focus on what the Bible says about Him. Let us not come expecting anything other than the promise of His presence (His presence with us is real, whether or not we feel something specific!). Let's pour out our hearts to Him and tell Him about our days. May Psalm27:4 be our prayer:
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
In God's Presence
How many times do you get together with close friends with a specific agenda in mind? I'm guessing, unless there has been an issue in the relationship or you are planning something together, "agenda" is not a word you use when you meet with a close friend. We usually just appreciate the time together to fellowship, to catch up, to see where the conversation goes. It is another opportunity to knit relationship together, simply spending time.
I was reminded this week about how God delights in His people (Zephaniah 3:17), and He simply wants us to pour out our hearts to Him (Psalm 62:8), to spend time with Him (I Chronicles 16:8-12), but so many times, if I really think about it, I have an agenda when I meet with God. I usually have a list of prayer requests, or I want to learn a new truth or experience a certain emotion in order to be able to say that my time with God has been good. I want to learn to sit in God's presence, with my focus on Him (Hebrews 12:1-2), with my mind set on Who He is (Isaiah 26:3-4) just for the purpose of being in His presence and connecting.
Practically doing this is hard. We struggle to be still. We struggle to set our minds on the Lord without asking Him for something and without our own expectations. I want to encourage all of us to come into God's presence, to be still, and to focus on what the Bible says about Him. Let us not come expecting anything other than the promise of His presence (His presence with us is real, whether or not we feel something specific!). Let's pour out our hearts to Him and tell Him about our days. May Psalm27:4 be our prayer:
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."