HOow does one spend time with God?

[lnname]

I konw how to listen to worship, to read the bible, and even how to do both at the same time, but i don't feel like I am getting as close to God as I want to when I do.

I don't want to feel a wave of happiness and no more, and I don't want to hear a single word and no more. If i was married I'd want to go on dates with my wife, and spend evenings talking to her, and I feel like I am living an incredible life that he has bought me, but not spending time with him.

Help me to start

 

[Mediaeval]

Taking a verse or two of a psalm or other Scripture, meditating on it and praying it throughout the day, can be a good way to consciously spend time with God even while you're busy doing other things. Giving thanks for little things, too.

 

[Spunkn]

Getting to know someone takes time. Sometimes getting to know God is much like any other relationship. You have to take the time to get to know them, through reading the bible. But it's not just reading the bible because it's the "good Christian thing to do", it's reading the bible because you believe that you want to know God, and the way to do that is through the bible and His words to us. Spend time in prayer when you get up, and when you go to bed. Talk to other Christians about their faith and ask questions. Join a bible study, join activities at church. There are any number of ways in which we can spend time / get closer to God.

But we have to treat it like a relationship because that's what God wants, not like a job.

 

[Peripatetic]

The best way I know is to go outside by myself and pray as I walk - some praise, some thanksgiving, some confession, sharing my wants and needs, and just thinking about what I've read in the Bible recently. My best prayer time is in the woods - as far from daily distractions as possible, but I work in the city and do the same thing when I walk the streets.

I think John 1:47-50 is a perfect illustration:

"When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” "

At first glance, we might ask, "why was Nathanael so amazed just because Jesus saw him sitting under a tree?" We can't be 100% certain, but I'm guessing that Nathanael was praying and meditating under a fig tree, completely alone, and had a memorable event or powerful insight. When Jesus said He "saw" Nathanael at that intimate moment, He knew it was the Son of God!

I really like that mysterious little story. I remember a powerful walk in the woods during a very dark time. I sometimes imagine what it would be like if Jesus said, "I was with you during that walk in the woods when you realized that your life had changed." It helped me to feel like it really was possible to "get to know" Him.

 

[Bible2]

lnname said in post 1:

How does one spend time with God?

Every moment of our life is spent with God, no matter what we do, because "in him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

Also, Jesus tells believers: "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:20).

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5b).

lnname said in post 1:

I know how to listen to worship, to read the bible, and even how to do both at the same time, but i don't feel like I am getting as close to God as I want to when I do.

Getting close to God/Jesus requires obedience to what he commands us as individuals to do. For Jesus says:

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:15-18).

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19).

"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 1:22).

--

Also, if you haven't already, get Holy Spirit baptized (Acts 11:15-16, Acts 10:44-46). Believers usually have to ask to receive the Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13b) baptism, for it isn't usually automatically given to them the moment they become believers; that's why Paul asked some believers: "Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2).

Believers usually receive Holy Spirit baptism through prayer accompanied by the laying on of hands, subsequent to water baptism (Acts 8:15-17, Acts 19:5-6). Holy Spirit baptism won't result in speaking in tongues for everyone (1 Cor. 12:30), but for almost everyone, as tongues are one of the Spirit's lesser gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-11,28, 1 Cor. 14:5). Many believers haven't yet experienced Holy Spirit baptism simply because they haven't yet asked for it, under the principle of "ye have not, because ye ask not" (Jas. 4:2b). Many believers haven't yet asked for it because they've come under the influence of mistaken teachings which say it's no longer in effect. Believers can get hands laid on them to receive Holy Spirit baptism at, for example, a Pentecostal-type or charismatic-type congregation.

--

Also, we will get close to Jesus as we serve him in the particular spiritual work which he has given us as individuals to do:

"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work" (Mark 13:34).

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26).

So if you haven't already, pray and ask Jesus what your work is for him, and do it every day.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

It's also important for believers to realize that Jesus gives different believers different amounts of spiritual talents (Mt. 25:15). So it's not possible for all believers to do the same spiritual work for Jesus, or to accomplish the same amount for him. And so any one believer shouldn't judge any other believer for not doing the same spiritual work that he or she is doing, or for not accomplishing as much as he or she is accomplishing (Rom. 14:4). Nor should any believer think the spiritual work Jesus has given him is unnecessary & not a real part of the operation of the church (1 Cor. 12:14-30). But there's still no room for complacency, because for those believers who have been given much spiritual talent by God, much will be required of them by God (Lk. 12:48b), & for those believers who haven't been given as much spiritual talent by God, they're still expected to accomplish something for him, & not sit back & do nothing at all for him (Mt. 25:26,30, Jn. 15:2a, Rom. 2:6-8).

 

[insurchoftruth]

Spend everyday time, worshipping God, because that is one of the main reasons, God created us, to worship him. If you are not sure how, read the psalms, because there you will find how to worship God, spend time with him, and pray to him.

We all have petitions, needs, and want answers to our prayers, but, worship and thanking God, come first. We were created to worship God, first of all, and were not created for asking God to give us things. I am not saying that it is wrong to ask God, for what we, need, what I am saying is, that worship is about who God is, thanksgiving is about, what God gives us or does in our life. It is first of all, about him, not about us.

When you look in the Bible, you will find, that praising God, worshipping him, and thanking him, are the most important prayers. In heaven, we will eternally worship God, for who he is, and we will probably not ask him to give us this or that, or maybe we will?

The greatest pleasure for the Greatest, is to be recognized as the Greatest, by the worship of his creation, the lesser. We worship God for who he is as a person, his character, nature and attributes. We praise God, for the great things he does.

It is called a sacrifice of praise, because you leave your things, and go and do God's things, worshipping him. God does not exist for us, but we exist for him.




Song of Songs, Psalm 119:164, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, Psalm 113:3, Psalm 27:6, Psalm 29:1, 2, Isaiah 6:1-4, 42:8,10,12, 43:6,7,21, 66:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, 10:31, 1 Chronicles 23:5,30, Acts 12:23, Romans 1:21, 12:1, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 1:6, 4:8-11, 5:10-14, 7:11,12, 19:1-10,16, 20:6, 22:8,9, Psalm 66:1-4, Exodus 34:8, 14:16,17, Hebrews 2:10, 13:15,21, 2 Kings 17:36, Psalm 150:2, I Chronicles 23:5, 30, II Chronicles 5:12-14, 7:3, 29:25-30, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 22:27,28,29

 

[Bible2]

dga said in post 6:

The greatest pleasure for the Greatest, is to be recognized as the Greatest, by the worship of his creation, the lesser. We worship God for who he is as a person, his character, nature and attributes. We praise God, for the great things he does.

Amen.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:13).

Amen.

 

[toolite]

In a quiet place not distractions..Think God and allow no other thoughts to enter your mind. When successful blocking thoughts you can connect to God.
Glory To God

 

[artqween]

I konw how to listen to worship, to read the bible, and even how to do both at the same time, but i don't feel like I am getting as close to God as I want to when I do.

I don't want to feel a wave of happiness and no more, and I don't want to hear a single word and no more. If i was married I'd want to go on dates with my wife, and spend evenings talking to her, and I feel like I am living an incredible life that he has bought me, but not spending time with him.

Help me to start

Hey inname..suggestion.. when sit down or etc.. Soft instrumental
music on low and be very quite.. and clear ur
mind?? Then r u at one with God..

 

[tturt]

For your consideration.

-in thy presence is fulness of joy; (Psa 16:11)

spend more time daily getting my mind off myself and others and deliberately focus on Yahweh by thanksgiving, praising Him, playing some music ((like religious Christmas lyrics that are about Him), focusing on Scripture such as Psa 145 (can use audio Bibles at biblegateway.com), thinking about some of His titles, names, and attributes and singing a song to an audience of One, etc. based on such Scriptures as I Thess 5:17; John 4:24; Psa 46:10, 69:30; 71:23; and 100:4.

 

[artqween]

For your consideration.

-in thy presence is fulness of joy; (Psa 16:11)

spend more time daily getting my mind off myself and others and deliberately focus on Yahweh by thanksgiving, praising Him, playing some music ((like religious Christmas lyrics that are about Him), focusing on Scripture such as Psa 145 (can use audio Bibles at biblegateway.com), thinking about some of His titles, names, and attributes and singing a song to an audience of One, etc. based on such Scriptures as I Thess 5:17; John 4:24; Psa 46:10, 69:30; 71:23; and 100:4.

good point...

 

[trulyconverted]

If i was married I'd want to go on dates with my wife, and spend evenings talking to her,

Exactly that!

Same.

Lock your room and talk to God, spend evenings talking to Him.

 

[artqween]

Exactly that!

Same.

Lock your room and talk to God, spend evenings talking to Him.

:-/ u dont have to lock the door..

 

[trulyconverted]

:-/ u dont have to lock the door..

Lol... Quite true... It's optional.

 

[artqween]

Lol... Quite true... It's optional.