Philippians 3:13-14 – Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. ¹⁴ The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.

Gratitude Day 837

“If I could only get my questions answered by God …”

This is a common theme I have heard as a pastor. People have questions for God. And would like them answered.

Too often, we think we need a one-on-one appointment for God in order for this to happen. We need God’s undivided attention with no distractions. Then, we think, we will get our questions answered.

In his book Have a Little Faith, author Mitch Albom was with his childhood rabbi, who he calls the Reb, shortly before the Reb died. While taking about heaven, Mitch asked the Red, “What would you ask God if you could have fine minutes with God?”

It’s an intriguing thought, isn’t it! Five minutes with God. A total of 300 seconds just between God and you.

Interestingly, when people on the street were asked this same question, most of the people wanted God to answer a difficult question. Such as:

• What is true love?
• Will I go to heaven?
• What religion is right?
• Did I do enough for others?
• What am I supposed to be doing?
• Am I forgiven?

By far, the most common questions included some form of “Why?” We often look at something personal that has happened in our lives or the life of a loved one and wonder, “Why?” Other why questions include:

• Why isn’t there peace on earth?
• Why do certain things affect one person and not another?
• Why are there bad things in my life?
• Why is there so much brokenness?

So, what if YOU had five minutes with God? What would you ask? Seriously. What do you want answered?

There are a lot of potential “tough” and “difficult” questions. But then, maybe a few more trivial ones such as, “Are mosquitoes necessary?”

What if I told you that you do not have to wait for an individual appointment with God to ask your questions? What if we simply practiced having five minutes with God every day? Or maybe even more than five minutes?

It really is possible. Doable. Realistic.

We can have five or more minutes with God any time we want. We don’t have to wait for a special appointment. Or time slot. WE just have to decide that WE want to meet with God. And do it.

Too often, we talk about wanting this time but don’t make it a priority in our lives. We have five minutes for a million other things. Why not five minutes with God?

We do this simply through prayer. Talking with God. Listening to God. Deciding that we’re going make time for God a priority. And then, following through with this.

Having a meeting with God really is very simple. We just do it. Sit with God. Listen for God. Share what’s on our heart. Focus on this time with God and set aside other things that are distracting us. This is all it takes.

But we get frustrated when we don’t get the answer for our prayers that we want. Or our prayer isn’t answered exactly as we wish. We don’t immediately hear back from God, so we assume God isn’t listening. We get distracted in our time with God and soon, we’ve completely lost sight of being with God.

Honestly, it is AMAZING how much communication we can have with God, if we simply choose to do so. We might hear from God more regularly in our lives if we simply made time to be with God. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of your day. Then, throughout the day, pause to make sure God is guiding you. Then, at the end of the day, look back and see where God was with you, reflecting upon where You say God at work in you day.

Sometimes people say, “I don’t know if God is there. Or if God is listening.” I am confident God is there. And listening. And loving you. If you want to know God more, then get to know Jesus more. Jesus is the best way for us to become more comfortable in knowing God. Jesus knows what it is like to celebrate great things in your life. Jesus also knows how to celebrate. This should reassure us that Jesus knows what it is like to have mountaintop experiences in our lives as well as down-in-the-dumps moments. When we allow Christ to be our window into understanding God, then we will discover more answers coming to us from God.

Part of having a relationship with God means finding simple, every day, ordinary ways to make time for God in our lives, five minutes at a time. It takes just a little intention. Desire. Planning. Rather than spending five minutes mindlessly scrolling through your phone today, dedicate those five minutes to spending this time with God. Sit. Be still. Listen. Do not become discouraged if you don’t feel God speaking to you right away or the answer is different from what you want.

Keep these little get-togethers with God easy. Simple. Doable. And possibly, you might discover that God has more to say to you than you anticipated. Maybe, just maybe, God has spoen to us and we just haven’t realized God’s voice in our lives.

For the encouragement to spend five minutes with God each day, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Loving God – Thank you for being patient with me when I am not very patient with You. May I desire and long to spend a few more moments with you today and every day this week. Together, let’s spend minutes a day with each other. Amen.

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Would you like a little weekly study guide to help you reflect upon spending five minutes a day with God? Here’s a study guide you can use all week long!