One of the every day hards in life is managing time. Time for all of our tasks and all of our people. The desired priority at the top of our list, in permanent ink? Time with God. 

Which happens to also be the top priority on our Enemy’s attack plan, which he executes with vengeance and consistency. He hates to see us sitting at the feet of Jesus. He despises when we pour over God’s Word. Satan knows our fervor for God, our quiet strength working through challenges, and our inner peace will all dissipate without time with our Lord. 

Committing to pull away from demands put upon us by ourselves and others, meeting endless expectations and needs, to be quiet before God presents no small task. Forging time to study His Word. To be still enough to know Him (Psalm 46:10), and to hear Him (John 8:47). Add the Enemy at work scheming to distract and discourage us, and the hard intensifies.

A truth became clear years ago, confirmed by those advanced in life experience: there is never enough time. There will always be stress and pressure and difficulties pulling us away.

Our years of study require focus and dedication, often coupled with long hours of work to finance our education. The years following are full to bursting with commitments to new jobs, often alongside blooming relationships heading into marriage. Next up, the season to advance in our work coincides with beginning our families, adding all the demands of little one’s needs. This quickly rolls into the pressing hum of raising teens and young adults, days that are crowded and crazy and often littered with breath-taking hards, timed up with the peak, demanding years of our careers. Years when the words “We’ll sleep when we die”, echoed off the walls of our home. And even in retirement, story after tale depict that life continues to be difficult and stressful, demanding intense effort. 

In which of those seasons do we want to do it alone? Without the guidance and loving grace of our Father? None. And yet, all through the years Satan whispers the lie, “Someday you’ll have time for more intentional time with God. Don’t worry about it today.” And those “today”s turn into weeks, months and even years.

In each season, a daily appointment with God requires intention and commitment.

The challenge comes, as in gardening, to always be alert for any “sucker branches” that deplete critical energy and nutrition needed for our lives to bear fruit. We must ruthlessly whack away at unhealthy, unnecessary, energy and life-sucking activities. Bringing all we do under the authority and direction of God.

As each phase of life causes our schedules to morph with new requirements and experiences, and demands crowd into our time with God, we may also need to alter when we meet with Him. Our reserved time-slot with God will likely change through the different seasons. We must start immediately looking and praying about “when Lord”. And He will show us. 

Carving out time alone with God will come with sacrificing something we want. Something we think we need. But there’s nothing we need more than time with Him. Nothing.

We must keep fighting for time with God through the seasons of our life. It is crucial. Let’s soak in these scriptures about prayer and the power of God’s Word and respond to the Spirit’s urging within us to do battle to preserve our precious, treasure-filled time with God.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they
should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with
all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:18)

“Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

“…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”  (Deuteronomy 8:3)

 “I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

 ^“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

^“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

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