My neighborhood friends and I would build forts in the woods, ride bikes up and down the streets and play baseball in the yard. I loved to play baseball. Like many kids growing up in America, I had a childhood dream of playing baseball in the major leagues.
One of the fondest memories of my childhood is playing baseball with my dad in our front yard. In fact, we had a standing meeting. We played baseball every day when he arrived home from work around 5:30PM. I can remember gathering all the baseball equipment, bat, gloves, and balls, and waiting in the front yard for my dad to pull his 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass into our driveway. When my dad pulled into our driveway, I would run alongside the car with both our gloves and ball in my hands. I would follow the car until it stopped, and I would literally open my dad’s door for him. I would hand him his glove and pull him out of his car and into the front yard. My dad would take off his sports coat, loosen his tie, and we would begin to play catch together. After we warmed up, my dad would hit me ground balls and pop ups. Then, he would pitch batting practice for me. I couldn’t wait to spend this time with my dad.
Just as I could not wait to spend time with my dad every day, as Christians, we should have this same desire to spend time with God, our Heavenly Father. The Psalmist says in Psalm 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” As children of God, we should have a longing and a desire to spend time with our Heavenly Father each day. The Psalmist said, “When can I go and meet with God?”
It’s an interesting thought to think that we can meet with God each day. Just as I had a standing appointment in the front yard playing baseball with my dad, we can have a daily meeting with God. Think about it. If you could have a meeting with anyone in the world, which person would you meet with? President Obama? Donald Trump? Peyton Manning? Jennifer Lopez? Dr. Phil? Warren Buffett? If you could have an hour meeting with anyone in the world, which person would you choose?
Well, we have an opportunity to meet with God, the Creator of the Universe, anytime we want. Think about it. We can get a one on one meeting with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords at any hour of the day. There is no better person in the world to seek counsel or ask for wisdom. He is Omniscient. He knows all things. And He is available to meet with us anytime we want.
Just as I had a regular meeting with my dad every day to play baseball, I want to encourage you to set a regular meeting every day with God. Set a specific time and place to meet with God. Write it down on your daily schedule. This is difficult for us, because we live such busy lives. That’s one reason we need to treat it like a meeting or an appointment with God.
God instructs us in Psalm 46:10a, “Be still, and know that I am God;” Let’s carve out time each day in our busy schedules to be still and spend time with God. God speaks to us as we read and study His word, the Bible. And we speak to God through prayer. And this is how we develop a personal relationship with God. We spend time with him. It’s the same way I developed a relationship with my earthly father. I spent time with him. When are you going to spend time with God? Will you schedule a regular, daily meeting with Him?
Jonathan Howes has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Jacksonville State University and a Master in Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the lead pastor for Graystone Church. Locations include the Ozora Campus: 1551 Ozora Road | Loganville, GA 30052 and the Walton Campus: 723 N Broad St Monroe, GA 30655.
Phone: (770) 466-3159
Email: info@graystonechurch.com
Website: GraystoneChurch.com
Blog: http://toliveischrist.cc
Twitter: @JohnnyHowes
