We can understand the principle of having a retainer with a business.  This may be with a law firm or other professional.  The business is successful and if you wait until you have a need when you contact them they may be previously engaged in other activities.  With the retainer the agreement is when you need help they will be available.

We can feel we have a retainer with God.  We recognize God as the creator of the universe and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  And then if a need arises we will pray and God will fix whatever situation we are facing.  We have accepted the fact we are sinners and Christ died on the Cross for our sins but have not made Jesus the Lord of our lives.  We can live like we have God on a retainer.  We have given Jesus a title in our lives but we have not given Jesus the position of Lord in our lives.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

When we accept the fact Jesus died on the cross but have not made him Lord of our lives we live in a dangerous position.

Matthew 7:22-23  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

God does not want to be there for us only in crisis.  God wants an ongoing intimate relationship with us.  By intimate it means it is just between the two of you.  There are things you share just with God there will be things you share with God other people do not need to know.  Jesus sought God in solitude and it is essential we seek to do this also.

Matthew 6:6  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.

God tells us in the Holy Bible we are to have an ongoing relationship.

Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray:  “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us today our daily bread.   And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.   And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

When Jesus instructs us on how to pray He does not say give us this week, month or year our bread.  He uses the word daily, when a new day begins we should be seeking God.  Seeking God will bring you to having your needs met.  It may seem easier to have them met for a longer period of time but then the need to have a connection with God would be less.

Psalm 68:19   Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

We shouldn’t want God to come in and fix our week on Friday so we can enjoy our weekends more. We should want Him to be involved daily.

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord? ‘Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Many Christians read the Bible each day because they are supposed to.  Reading the Bible daily is what all Christians are supposed to do.  I believe we are supposed to read the Holy Bible daily to seek God, as an opportunity to form a relationship with God through fellowship.  When we have established a relationship with God we will begin to experience God’s deep satisfying love this will help us to love Him at a deeper level.  We will know whatever challenges face us God will be with us.

Luke 9:23 then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

When we have daily, constant contact with God we have moved so much farther than having God on a retainer.

Written and posted by Joyce E Poggensee

Verses referenced: Matthew 7:21-23,  Matthew 6:6,  Matthew 6:9-13,  Psalm 68:19,  Proverbs 30:7-9, Luke 9:23,