Thirteen Ways to Spend Time Alone with Jesus
- Deborah Haddix
- Mar 17, 2020
- 3 min read
Be Still
We are designed for time spent in the quiet, simply being with our heavenly Father. In the stillness, we have opportunity to pay close attention and to listen well (Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:11-12).
Pray
Talk to God about your speed bump. Be honest. He already knows. Be aware for what He is teaching you (Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16).
Engage with the Scripture
Trust the Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God to be your guide, wisdom, and strength for each speed bump. Allow Scripture to wash your mind and restore your soul (Hebrews 4:12; Colossians 3:16).
Meditate on Scripture
In Joshua 1:8, we are commanded to mediate on God’s Word. By mulling over and pondering the words of God, we can choose to face the stuff of our speed bumps without allowing them to dominate our life. Meditating on Scripture helps us place our focus on God rather than our situation (Psalms 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8-9).
Give Thanks
A grateful heart invites us to a shift in our perspective and in our relationship with God and others. In the offering of thanks, we are invited to journey from loss to trust and from pain to praise. This is the beauty of thankfulness. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Search Your Soul
Soul searching is hard, but the benefits of the discomfort and, yes, even the pain are so worth it. It is through the recognizing, acknowledging, and releasing to God of the hard things we find in the searching that we are helped over the speed bumps and drawn closer to Him (Psalms 139:23-24).
Spend Time with a Soul Friend
A soul friend is one who knows your history, knows your weaknesses, celebrates your strengths, and knows God intimately. Draw them around you in prayerful conversation and invite them to help you pay attention to the activity of God, always, but especially when facing speed bumps (Ephesians 4:16).
Journal
The process helps you slow down, pay attention, and be present (Exodus 17:14; Revelation 21:9).
Practice God’s Presence
Especially during our speed bump seasons, we must learn to live with an ongoing awareness of the living, active, Holy God (Psalms 16:8-9).
Identify Your Spiritual Markers
Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life and especially helpful during the times when life throws speed bumps your way. A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision, direction, or transition when you clearly knew that God guided you. These markers are a tool for aiding spiritual memory. Without their help, your spiritual bearings can be lost (Joshua 4:8).
Speak Truth to Yourself
Destructive inner dialogue, which can run rampant when we’re facing speed bumps, can do us in. Be aware. Don’t allow it. As soon as you recognize it, STOP! Take a breath and begin speaking the truths of the Bible to yourself instead. talking to yourself. Gospel truth is always constructive. It builds up and brings life (Proverbs 23:7 KJV; 2 Corinthians 10:5).
Submit
Jesus says to us, “Trust Me. Put aside your striving, your control, your manipulating….and simply trust Me.” In submitting, we choose not to make things happen for ourselves and not to control people or situations, even if we can. Instead, we choose to come under the Lord’s authority, wisdom, and power. We choose to trust His sovereignty (1 Peter 5:6).
Worship
Worship is the spiritual practice of praising God’s greatness, goodness, and beauty. Worship should become the constant undertone of our lives. It is the single most powerful force in completing and sustaining restoration of our whole being to God. It may take strong determination, but when facing a speed bump – worship (Luke 1:46; Revelation 4:11).
In the pages of God’s Word, we are told that when we do something, we are to do it for the Lord and not for ourselves (Colossians 3:23). No matter our circumstance, regardless of the outcome, in every speed bump, we are to give thanks to the Lord and rejoice. It may be difficult, but we are to rely on Him, praying and trusting His plan, knowing He is in control