Note: This is the sixth chapter of The Power of His Might. Please click here to read the introduction and first five chapters.

Faith Comes by Hearing – Time alone with God

“… As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (Psalms 42:1-2 ESV)

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalms 27:4 ESV)

‘You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” ‘ (Psalms 27:8 ESV)

It had been my intention to spend the next few chapters elaborating on the Word of God. However, the Spirit has strongly impressed me to first discuss regular time alone with God as a prerequisite to hearing Him.

Please take a moment right now and ask the Lord to speak to you, then re-read the verses quoted above and meditate on what they are saying.

I believe that this subject is nearer and dearer to God’s heart than any other regarding our Christian walk.

Jesus’ life is our best example.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 ESV)

“And after he had taken leave of them, he (Jesus) went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46 ESV)

“And after he (Jesus) had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,” (Matthew 14:23 ESV)

“In these days he (Jesus) went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12 ESV)

Our Lord Jesus Christ held quiet communion alone with the Father as a high priority. For although He was God the Son, come in the flesh, full of Grace and Truth, yet He needed and desired time alone with God the Father. Even though His communication with the Father was continual (John 14:10-11), yet it was time alone with God that Jesus cherished most, whether it was all night long or early in the morning before the sun came up, getting alone with the Father came first.

What did Jesus tell us about prayer?

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 ESV)

Oh how God longs to spend time alone with you every day.

Just the two of you.

Special time.

Quality time.

The amount of time we spend with someone has a direct effect on the quality of our relationship with them, whether it is our wife, our children, our closest friends, or our Lord.

Stop and think how you spend your time each day. Do you take the time to really get to know Him?

Jesus said,

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 ESV)

The following incident sheds further light on this:

“Now as they (Jesus and His disciples) went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Martha was busy with ministry, but Mary had chosen the one necessary thing:

To sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word!

Dear brother or sister in Christ. There is NOTHING that God desires more than for you to SIT AT HIS FEET and HEAR HIS WORD. He has so much He wants to share with you. So very much. AND, He wants to listen to you pour out your heart to Him! He is your Abba (daddy) Father. Run up to Him, jump on His lap, rest your head on His chest and find rest for you soul!

“And calling to him a child, he (Jesus) put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4 ESV)

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Romans 8:14-16 ESV)

If He never knew you, it does not matter if you preach in His name, or prophesy in His name, or cast out demons in His name, or do many mighty works in His name. And how can He know you if you never give Him the time of day?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me…’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 ESV)

Faith comes by hearing.

How can you hear if you are not taking the time to listen?

Turn off the computer.

Turn off the phone.

Turn off the TV.

Turn off the Radio.

Shut the door.

Or, go for a walk.

Or, go for a drive…just you and Jesus.

NOTHING is more important to your walk with God than this.

NOTHING.

Not Church.

Not fellowship with other believers.

Not ministry.

Not working to support your family.

Take time for HIM.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Is Jesus your treasure?

Could a stranger tell that Jesus is your treasure by how you spend your time?

“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV)

Normally this verse is quoted in regards to financial giving. I want you to look at it differently. Instead of looking at it as giving the first of your paycheck to the Lord, see it as giving of the first of your time to the Lord.

Put time with God first. Now read verse 10 as regarding the work of the Spirit of Grace in your life. Spend time with the Lord first, and your cup shall be running over with the new wine of the Spirit of God.

I love the words of a song by Third Day: “Who is this King of Glory, who pursues me with His love?” (Ps 24)

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is whole toward Him….” (2 Chronicles 16:9a JPS)

The Lord is searching for those whose hearts are wholly undivided for Him.

Is your heart wholly for God?

He is pursuing you with His love!

He wants to “show himself strong” on your behalf.

That is grace. When He shows Himself strong on your behalf.

Is your heart perfect towards Him?

Please, please, please take time with God every day. The more time you give to Him the more He will be able to bless you and others through you. I try to spend the first two hours of every day with Him.

Please meditate on these verses:

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

(Lamentations 3:21-26 ESV)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

I will be found by you, declares the LORD,” (Jeremiah 29:11-14a ESV)

“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No!”…

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:15-21 partial ESV)

“The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.

Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.” (Isaiah 50:4-5 ESV)

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV)

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalms 46:10-11 ESV)

“When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” (Exodus 33:9-11 ESV)