November 9, 2024 Devo

I haven’t always made time for God. I hate to confess that, especially as a pastor. But it’s true. My life has always seemed to be a blur of activity, and I have often relied on my own resources to do what I do. It’s not that I haven’t taken time to read the Bible or pray along the way. I have. But my Bible study has often been in preparation for a lesson or a sermon, rather than letting God simply speak to ME. The same with prayer. I have always prayed. I’ve prayed before meals, prayed during church services, prayed at meetings, even gathered with friends and prayer partners before church to pray.
But about five years ago God showed me what I was missing. I was relying too much on my gifts of leadership and not enough on HIS leading. He revealed that I was spending way too much anxiety and energy trying to figure out problems, rather than seeking His wisdom and asking for His intervention in solving them. God, in His grace, saw me through those times. But I look back now and realize there is much I would have done differently had I sought Him, and probably even more that I’m not aware of. I have come to understand I NEED the hand of God upon me. I need His Presence, His Power, and His Perspective. I began to give God TIME in my life. Lengthy time. And I have never experienced Him more fully than now.
When Jesus posed our question today to the disciples about why they couldn’t give Him an hour to “watch and pray,” it was a two-edged sword. First, He was asking them, “Don’t I mean enough to you to want to spend time with me?” Ouch. That one really hurt. But the second part of the question He answers in the next verse. “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” In other words, “You need Me more than you know!” Those are the discoveries that God has taught me over the last five years. I can honestly say I love Him more than I’ve ever loved Him before. I can also say I depend on Him more now than I ever have.
Is God important enough to YOU to give Him an hour? Learn from my journey today. Don’t just squeeze a little bit of God’s presence into the cracks of your life. Make time for God. Sit with His Word and spend ample time seeking Him in prayer. When we seek God wholeheartedly, He gives Himself more fully to us. That’s God’s Word for you today.