Time with God - Part 2

Before the days of chainsaws and modern technology, men would cut down trees with either an axe or a manual saw. The work of cutting down trees was manual and very physical. Hence lumberjacks were usually extremely well built with strong bodies, strengthened by the physical nature of their work.

Do you think lumberjacks go to gym, to work out after a day’s work? No, because they don’t need to – they get so strong and keep so fit because they are doing gym all day.

Last week I wrote about how vital it is to take some time out of every day to spend with God, reading the word, praying etc.
But the 30 minutes or hour you spend with God in the morning or evening is not enough. If we want to be strong and continue growing in faith and hope and love, we need to be like lumberjacks. We need to be working out throughout our day, being in constant communion with God.
This is something much easier said than done – it is common to hear people say, “I go through the entire day not thinking about God once, but I just don’t know how to bring Him into my day.”

I wish there was a standard formula, but I don’t believe there is. However, here are some ideas of things we can do to keep us close to God and ensure that He is involved in the ‘whole of life’:

• Share your thoughts with God – God wants to know us, and He wants us to share our lives with Him, no matter how insignificant we may think our thoughts are. We all think throughout our day and these are great opportunities to share with God. For example: If you are thinking about how happy you are, tell God how happy you are and thank Him for that; if you are worried, share that with Him and ask for His protection.

• Pray – prayer does not need to always be in a quiet place with your hands together and eyes closed. Pray while driving to work, while walking to the shops, while remembering a friend – say a quick 10 second prayer whenever you have something to pray about.

• Fellowship with other Christians – hang out with other Christians. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:16

• Love your neighbour – Our mission on earth is to spread the gospel, but also the love of God. Be sure to notice situations where someone needs help, and then act – situations like this help us grow in love and help us to better understand the love with which Jesus loves us.

• Tell people about Jesus – The power of the Holy Spirit is released through us when we tell people about Jesus in His power. Personally this is one area that I find most intimate with God when it happens.

Be blessed, make music, live with passion
NS