Time Alone With God

I love it when God speaks to me through reading His Word. Today was one of those days that something jumped out at me from what seemed like it might be an unlikely place - Leviticus 16.  This passage details the rituals for the day of atonement.  This was the one day a year that the high priest was allowed to approach God in the holy place to make atonement for the people of Israel.  From this passage, I was able to draw inspiration for my daily time alone with God.

1. We can (and should) approach God daily
   Aaron, the high priest, was only to approach God one day a year.  When the Jesus died on the cross for us, the curtain at the entrance of the holy place was torn in two and we have access to God every day.
   We are told in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" This should be our practice each and every day to seek God and to seek Him deliberately and intentionally. Do you spend time alone with God every day?
2. We should prepare ourselves to approach God
   Aaron had holy garments he had to wear to approach God (Leviticus 16:4) and he had to make a sacrifice of atonement for himself and his family before he could approach God.
   We don't need to wear special clothes to approach God, but we should still make sure that we prepare our hearts to meet God. Do you prepare your heart before you meet with God? Do you confess your sin and accept His forgiveness? Do you have a special place you go to meet with God where you are free from distraction and you can focus on what God has for you today?
3. We need to prepare ourselves to re-enter our world after we have met with God
   Aaron and the priests had to change out of their holy garments, bathe, and change into their regular clothes before reentering the camp with the rest of the people.
   This really struck me as I read it this morning. Sometimes I finish my time alone with God with just the thought "it's over" and move on with my day. That does a great disservice to my time with God. Today, I was conscious and intentional about how I concluded my time alone with God. I prayed for my day and those around me as I prepared to leave my special place.

Are you intentional about spending time alone with God every day? Do you prepare your heart for your time with Him? Do you prepare your heart for your time afterward? I hope you do and that you draw nearer to Him every day!

Worthless Things

Isn't it amazing how much time we spend focussing on worthless things? It may be the latest celebrity gossip, or binge watching the hot new show online, or playing games online, or almost anything else. Sure, they may be fun for a while and maybe even bring some zest to out lives. But do they revive us?

First of all, I guess we should remember that we need to be revived. We have become new creations in Christ, but when we sin, it deadens us and turns our hearts away from Him. We need revival. His Word can bring us revival. It reminds us of His love for us. It reminds us of all that He's done for us. It reminds us that if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How's that for revival?