DAWG Days.

Alpha Phi Bible study seems to come with a challenge every week. Its never intentional, but in the time I spend alone with the Lord before we meet, he always lays something new on my heart to share with these incredible ladies.

Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about looking at our relationship with Christ as a marriage; A divine romance, if you will. One of the key components of any relationship is time together; in this instance, dates. We’ve been holding one another accountable for daily time alone with the Father, but this week, each of us has committed to a “date” with Jesus (mine is tomorrow afternoon. Super excited). It sounds a little strange, but it is basically an extended period of time alone with Jesus. A time to pray, worship, and listen. Many of us are nervous about how to fill such a long period of time, so I would like to offer a few guidelines for this time to get you going. This is by no means a strict, step-by-step process. Spend your time as you feel lead.

1. Set aside no less than 2 hours for your date.

Honestly, this is a very short amount of time for a date. If I went out with a guy and we were done in two hours, I would definitely think something was wrong, or he was boring. I would highly encourage building up to 3-5 hours, but for now, 2 will suffice. The point is not to get it over with. Like any good date, you should not be anxious for it to end, but take in every second. Be sure to let others know you do not need to be disturbed (unless someone is bleeding. Then, you should probably take care of that.) and SHUT YOUR PHONE OFF!!! No excuses.

2. Be Still.

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in all the earth.” -Psalm 46:10 Take time to get still and quiet before the Lord. Don’t read, Don’t talk, Don’t listen to music. Settle your mind and prepare your heart for worship. Give yourself time to focus, so your mind doesn’t wander as much.

3. Ask God to Join you.

 Pray that God would be with you during this time. Ask him to reveal himself through his word and prayer.

4. Listen to worship music.

A good worship song puts my heart in a wonderful mood. Try listening to some, and even sing along (unless you’re at starbucks. People will likely think you’ve been drinking, and I know you’re not doing that on your date with Jesus). Spend time adoring your incredible Father.

5. Read your Bible.

Don’t get me wrong…i LOVE books. But there is no book that can replace THE book. Crack open your Bible and read directly from it. If you need a place to start, try John. No better way to get to know Jesus more intimately than reading about his life. Take notes, and take time to think about what God is saying to you through your reading. I once heard that if you leave worship unchanged, you didn’t really worship. How will this passage change your life from here on out?

6. Pray.

I like to write my prayers out…it keeps my ADD under control. You can try that, or you can pray aloud. Share with the Lord your concerns and fears. Confess your sins to him, and ask that he change your heart. Tell him all the reasons you love him.

7. Listen.

More important than anything we could ever say to God is what he has to say to us. Take time to be quiet and listen to what he wants to say to you today. If your heart is willing, he won’t disappoint.

Hope this helps ease your fears about such a long quiet time. I am confident you are going to relish these times with the Lord. Can’t wait to hear about your date with Jesus:)