Why Spend Time With God!
9 Rewards You’re Sure to Receive—”The 9 Ps”
My mission and call is to encourage, equip, and empower women to SOAR in the joy and beauty of their divine purposes in all the roles they play—especially the role of mom. I have countless resources, tools, messages, and support that I love to share. However, nothing trumps or will ever replace the first suggestion I give to women who are seeking help, struggling as a mom, or yearning for greater purpose and direction as a woman.
“Spend time with God!”
And why? Because the greatest wisdom is wisdom you discover on your own through God’s Word. It doesn’t sound too complex or even difficult, yet time and time again I hear women share how they struggle to commit to making time with God a priority. Have you ever wondered, “Why spend time with God?” “What will I gain?”
Have you thought to yourself …
- “I’d like to spend time with God, but I don’t have time.”
- “I know it’s important, but I just don’t feel connected.”
- “Where do I even begin?”
- “What will spending time with God do for my life?”
If so, you are NOT alone, but I’m here to encourage you to not let another day pass by without getting to know your heavenly Father. It has the power to change your life.
Spending time with God doesn’t ONLY require us to say “Yes!” today, but it involves choosing to be disciplined, committed, intentional, and present day after day after day. It may sound difficult, even daunting to begin the habit and ritual of spending time with God in His Word and prayer, however, the rewards that follow are irreplaceable and priceless.
These rewards are ones you can’t experience or find anywhere else. They are supernatural gifts that come as a result from growing closer and closer to God.
1) Peace
Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~John 14:27 (NIV)
Who wouldn’t want peace in their lives? This peace I’m referring to is not the absence of conflict. Rather, it’s a peace that “surpassess all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). The peace we receive from God is a supernatural, unexplainable presence with the power to comfort souls, ease stress, relieve worry, heal hearts, and nurture joy.
2) Purpose
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. ~Ephesians 1:11 (MSG)
We were created with a yearning for purpose—a reason and meaning to our existence. The world tempts to define it for us, however, the world does not know us nor have the best in store for us. But God does. God knows you for He “fearfully and wonderfully made you” (Psalm 139:14). Therefore, He is the only One who can lead you into the purpose to which He uniquely created you to fulfill.
3) Power
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … ~Acts 1:8
Without the wisdom of God’s Word and a heart who seeks to know Him, we will succomb to the temptations of the world and fall victim to the weaknesses of our flesh. It’s the Holy Spirit that is empowered within us the more we get to know God and the more refined our faith becomes. It’s the Holy Spirit’s power that makes us strong when we are weak and fuels our desire to live our best lives for God’s glory.
4) Perspective
Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2
Knowing God, which comes from spending time with God, will change your perspective on everything in life. Love. Relationships. Work. Conflict. Struggle. Marriage. Kids. Death. Time with God shifts our focus off the world and onto Christ, which inspires a godly, Christ-centered perspective and mindset—one that seeks Christ’s way of living, helps ignite the Holy Spirit’s power within, clarifies our purposes, and fuels our passions.
5) Passion
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. ~Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)
The wisdom gained by getting to know God helps us recognize the godly passions He’s uniquely placed on our hearts—passions meant not only to be used and executed in ways that bring glory to God and build up His kingdom, but to also bring us great joy, meaning, abundance, and prosperity. The passions God ignites are ones meant to promote goodness, kindness, and compassion in the world.
6) Positivity
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ~Galations 5:22 (NIV)
Radiating positivity is a natural response to being filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit produces heart qualities that are rooted in truth and grounded in faith. Truth and faith nurture optimism and hope, the very seeds that sow positivity into every area of our lives. Having this God-induced, positive outlook and mindset on life, no matter what the circumstances, ignites a deeper desire to live our best lives in ways that truly matter.
8) Perseverance
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross… ~Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Have you ever wanted to give up? Throw in the towel? Me too. However, now that I have gained wisdom from my time spent with God and have discovered the unique purpose God has called me to live, a resilient, persevering spirit has been born in me. In addition, this desire to not give up and keep going is one filled with intense joy and contentment because I know I’m doing what God created me to do. And when we are doing the very thing God created us to do, there is nothing that will stand in our way because God is in the driver’s seat.
8) Progress
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. ~1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
The only way we discover who we are and what we are living for is by spending time with God. It’s not always an easy process, but once we discover our purposes and passions and experience His power, peace, and perspective, we gain the confidence and courage to step boldly in the direction of our dreams—no matter the obstacles—and make progress that brings God glory and builds up His kingdom. Therefore, the work we do for God, no matter how small or big, is never in vain. He uses all of it for good.
9) imPact
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knwledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fail … ~2 Peter 1:5-10
When we are aligned with God’s heart and understand and accept the unique assignments He’s called us to, we must act obediently and then trust that He will lead us to the impact and influence He needs us to have. However, if we never accept our purpose nor take action that is aligned with our purpose, we will never make the impact God created us to make. In other words, if you don’t make the impact on the world that God created you to make, it won’t ever be made. Only YOU can make that impact.
So, why spend time with God?
Well, my honest response would be … WHY NOT? Why wouldn’t you want to reap the rewards of a heart who knows and diligently follows God’s truths.
There’s no better time than NOW to start seeking God.
If you are wanting some guidance on how to start spending time with God, then I invite you to read my post titled, “How to Make God a Daily Part of Your Life.”
In the meantime, friend, find your Bible, open it up, and begin reading. The book of Psalms is a great place to begin. In fact, to help you get started, I invite you to watch the video below where I host my Daily Dose of God’s Truth. Every day I read a Psalm and talk about its meaning and how it can impact our life today. Click below for Psalm 1 and then check out my YouTube Channel for more Daily Dose of God’s Truth videos.
Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so I invite you to comment below. Have you experienced any of the rewards I shared as a result of your time with God? Do you struggle to make God an active part of your daily life? What is your heart yearning for?
Breathe peace, beautiful friend, and keep soaring!
Natalie
P.S. Check out the following posts for related topics:
