In yesterdays post I encouraged you to be intentional in your time alone with God. I shared a simple and straight forward process called REAP (Read, Examine, Apply, Pray). I should note that REAP is not original with me. I first heard about it through the Verge Network and Austin Stone Community Church.
Since tomorrow is January 1st I want to add one more component for you as you prepare to REAP in the New Year. Here it is - three words: Time, Place, Plan.
Time. Are you a morning person? Are you an evening person? Doesn’t matter person? Think through what time of day you can REAP. Ideally you’ll need 20-30 minutes. On a “normal” day when do you have this amount of time? It does require intentionality. I understand there are seasons when it can be very difficult to have even 5 minutes alone (parenting!). But have you tried? Have you talked to your spouse or roommate or whomever and asked for their help in this? You must be intentional. But don’t beat yourself up or pour on the guilt. This is not about doing something that good Christians do. This is about spending time alone with God.
Place. After you determine the time, it can be very helpful to have a regular and consistent place. The living room? The kitchen table? Starbucks? Some are able to mix things up but it really does help most people to have a consistent time and place.
Plan. That was yesterdays post. Go back and read or re-read.
We have an amazing opportunity in 2015 to grow closer and closer to our good God through His Word. Will we pick a time, place, and plan? Will we position ourselves so that by the grace of God we can REAP? I’m praying for us that God’s Word will be a joy and delight of our heart (Jeremiah 15:16).
1 Comment
Laurie
Hey SOMA,
Here is a really great tool to help us get started meditating on scripture throughout the day. If you are like me, this does not come naturally, and it helps to see an example of how one might do it. Here is a link to John Piper's "labs". To find it on your own, just go to www.desinggod.org and click on "labs" at the top of the page.
http://www.desiringgod.org/labs/your-kingdom-come
I can't wait to see how this changes our lives and ourselves
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