We have no use for a retainer with God.  God does not want us to have Him on call for times of trouble, God wants us to form a relationship with Him.  The relationship will be based on God’s love for us.  Our love will leave the relationship wanting.  Our love will leave us wanting to return to old habits we have come to recognize as destructive or unproductive.

Galatians 6:8  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Our flesh is very short-sighted.  It is our flesh that wants it now.  The flesh does not want to wait.  Our flesh will lead us down the wrong path.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

The Spirit is focused on eternity.  When we form a relationship with God, The Holy Spirit will guide us and bless us.

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

But how do we form a relationship with God.  Relationships are formed with God much in the same way we build the other relationship in our lives.  Relationships are built by spending time together.  We know that the deepest relationships are built by quality time spent together.  This time is most often when two people get together, just the two of them.  God wants you to build a relationship with Him the same way.  We may feel we are too busy to spend time alone with God or perhaps God is too busy.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God is never too busy for you, you are never out of His thoughts.  We can be too busy because we are forgetting to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.  We like to be independent, we like to do be productive on our own.  While God wants us to be productive, we will be most productive when we do more than just include God in our plans.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. (AMP)

We are to spend time with God seeking Him, the Holy Bible is a very tangible way to seek God.  We can accept the approach the Holy Bible is the textbook, the sermons are the lectures and the experiences we have in life are the pop quizzes that never stop coming.  We can feel God is the teacher but you can never reach Him when you really need Him.  This not how God wants us to look at Him, His Word or our life.

We should not think of the Holy Bible as a textbook when we are spending time alone to build a relationship with God.  We are able to build the relationship through fellowship by reading His word. We can sit with our Bible and heart open and look for God. We can invite Him to join us.

“Lord, Come sit with me for a while and tell me about Yourself.”

Written and posted by Joyce E Poggensee

Verses referenced: Galatians 6:8, Matthew 7:13, Galatians 5:22-25, Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 3:5-7