How Much Do We Take?

The very purpose for us to read God's Word during the time of prayer is to receive a Word from the Lord. It may be a promise or instruction; a word of consolation or guidance or even a gentle rebuke which the Lord may use to speak to us according to the time of need or situation. But how many times do we take it seriously and well enough until the Word has become active and alive in us. Every week we go to church and receive God's Word. Yet how well do we take it and meditate on it believing that God had intended to serve a purpose through that Word? Or do we take it casually and forget it the moment we walk out of the church?

For a child of God if the Word of God received doesn't make an impact then we are living superficially. We may read a lot of scripture portion for the day but there is definitely one rhema Word or a portion of scriptures which the Lord may give us to fulfill a purpose. Yet it is in our hands how we take it and mix it with faith so that it comes alive in us and our lives. So let us eat God's Word that it may really produce result. Amen.
Jer 15:16 (NIV)
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty

His Wonderful Presence

I have heard many believers tell me that the Lord is always with them and they really dont need to have a seperate time of prayer with the Lord. They say that they keep talking to Him all the time, when they drive or when they walk or clean etc and that is really prayer.
I fully agree that our Lord is with us all the time and we can talk to Him any time. Yet I am completely convinced that we need to have a quiet time with the Lord where we give ourselves fully to Him. We go to God not only to ask for things in prayer, share our concerns, receive answers for our problems, thank Him for what He does but more importantly we go to Him to know Him more, love Him better and give ourselves unconditionally to Him. It is the time where we know Him more closely through His Word and His revelation of Himself in wonderful ways through the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds. It is time when He speaks to us specifically in the areas concerned.
Like the way Jesus had a quiet time with the Father every day so should we as His children go to Him for Him. That time with God, be it one hour or even more or less is the time where His wonderful presence abides in us which we carry throughout that day. And since we cannot close that meeting with Him it overflows into that day as we talk to Him and worship Him when we drive, walk and clean.
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed

Spiritual Discipline

Quiet time or the time with God is a spiritual discipline. It does not come that easy for it needs hard practice until it becomes a habit without which we cannot let the day go. For years I have been trying to manage my quiet time with the Lord. I always wanted to have one meaningful hour with the Lord without any disturbances, but seldom failed to have it consistently. Many recommend that best time for quiet time is the early morning hours before you start your day which no doubt is true. But I couldnt really achieve that in spite of my unsuccessful considerable efforts. I started having a peaceful time with God during the middle of the day with no hurried tasks ahead or unfinished businesses. I really found that a time when I could give God all of me was the best time for prayer. But making prayer a discipiline and keeping our fervor for Him is truly in our hands.

"Better is one day in your courts (presence) than a thousand elsewhere" (Psalms 84:10a)

Adequately Fed

Every believer in Christ would agree that reading and meditating on God's Word is essential to keep up our spiritual life. To compromise on that would turn out as disastrous after some time. Initially when we ignore reading God's Word (the Bible) for a day or two, it may not make a real difference. For some a few lines of prayer may seem suffice. But as days go by a void sets in which cannot be easily eroded. This is due to the fact that when we don't get to hear from God through His Word or know Him through His Word, our spiritual being becomes malnourished and ultimaltely becomes unhealthy. Let us not forget that the Word of God is the manna with which our spiritual being is fed. When our spiritual man is unfed then our soul becomes unhealthy.
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'