H.A.B.I.T.S. - Have God Time

H - HAVING GOD TIME.

Mark 1:35 niv
35 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. (Mark 1:35 niv)

Jesus is a great example of what it means to have some God time. He made it a practice to go off and spend time, alone, with God. As we see here in Mark 1:35, 'that very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where He prayed.'

And it's not just here in Mark where we see Jesus doing this. It appears multiple times throughout the gospels. It was Jesus' habit to set aside time to go and be with the Father. This is the idea behind the first letter of the word, H.A.B.I.T.S. H, Having God Time.

What is Having God Time?

Having God time is simply that, making time to be with God. Crazy, right?

For years I have taught students that spending time with God is something that should be part of their every day lives. As believers, we need and must set aside dedicated time to be with God. After all, this is exactly what Jesus does.

What does Your Time with God Look Like?
 
Once you have decided to begin spending time with God try the following...

1. Set a time every day to have your time.
- Spending time with God is something that you must determine to do. So set a time in your daily schedule to do so. Just like you would if you were scheduling lunch or coffee with a friend, mark on your daily planner your time with God. Then show up. Now I have heard arguments as to the when; when should you have your time with God?  There are those who would say morning is the best time to meet God, after all, this is when Jesus did so. But there are also those who would say, set aside a time that works for you; breakfast, lunch dinner. Personally, I have my time set for the morning hours, shortly after waking up. While I might choose the morning hours, you need to set a time that works best for you.

2. Bible. Think. Pray.
- Your time with God can be flexible. The point is that you spend time with God. I suggest you read something from the Bible. A couple verses at a time. You could even choose to read a short, daily devotional. After reading, think about what you just read. What is being communicated? Who is doing what? What is the application? What will you be thinking about for the rest of the day? If you can, write these thoughts in a journal so you can review them later. Then finish your time with God in prayer. Prayer is the point of your time with God. Take this time to talk to God. Again, if you have a journal, write down your prayers; your praises, your thanksgivings, your requests, and your joys. 

3. Keep It Simple.
- As you commit to making time with God a habit in your life, it's best to begin your journey with one little reminder, Keep It Simple. It's so easy to say you want to begin something new and then jump into without really thinking about what you want to accomplish. Too often I have watched as both students and adults commit to spending time with God only to become frustrated by expectations set too high. So keep it simple. Start small. Begin by setting aside 5 minutes. When you have successfully mastered a daily time with God, expand your time to 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, then 30. Your goal is to develop a habit so that your time with God is regular and part of your live. Do what works for you and let God work within you to make this time something special.

What Tools Are There for Having God Time?

When it comes to 'tools', I can only offer what I currently use. For years I have used only a simple journal and my Bible. I use a daily Bible reading plan and a journal in which I write my thoughts and prayers. That's it.

As you think about your own tools, let God lead you to those resources. Remember, this is your new habit. So begin it and let God grow you close to Him.

- jay

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