Scheduled Work Out: If I just focus on being healthy two hours a week, I never will be

Our spiritual health, our faith, is the same way. It’s not just something on our Sunday schedule. Last week, we discussed how God wants to meet with you each and every Sunday that we are together. It’s God’s intention that you grow in community wither other Christians. And this week is the sequel to that, because God wants to meet you individually as well. You can’t have one without the other.

Scoreboard: We are in the last few weeks in this series looking at the different habits of a growing Christ follower and we only have two more to go.

Eighth Marker: Faithful – Spending Regular Time with God.

James 4:7-8a 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

God’s promise is this: if you reach out to God, he will reach back. He won’t leave you hanging. You’ll never have a missed call. God yearns to spend time with you.

Teenage Crush: He ain’t never missing that call!

Hebrews 4:9-10 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. (Like in a space movie?) 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. (Serve well, rest well)  

I talk to God throughout my day.

If we constantly try to get through our day without talking to God, we are missing out on our greatest power source. He wants to give us rest. Not physical rest, but spiritual rest for our soul. So it can recover and restore.

Being faithful means that we are regularly pausing and talking to God. Asking for his help. Taking a moment to rest and recover.

Sleep: How do you feel after a power nap? Ready to go!

11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

He knows how hard this is for us. It goes against every instinct in us to slow down.

Gas Story: Isn’t that our tendency? To wait to fill up and keep pushing forward?

God wants to work throughout your day. He wants to speak to you throughout the day. And if you pause and take time to look for him, you will find his voice.

Examples: Worship on Spotify, 20 second prayer, Opening your Bible app…

“Pause”: Free book I wrote on resting at thatpausebook.com

12 For the word of God (Bible) is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

The Bible is different from the other books on your bookshelf. Harry Potter isn’t cutting to your soul! As much as you may have loved the Twilight series, those werewolves don’t expose your true self to God. Or do they? (kidding)

I make time to read and memorize Scripture.

Why? Because it’s the Word of God. When you read the Bible, you are opening yourself up to hear from God. When you open up the app on your phone, you are stopping to see what God might want to teach you in that moment. What he might be trying to do in your life that day.

GPS: You have to keep looking back to make sure you are going the right direction

I spend regular time with God because I don’t want to miss what he is doing.

This Week: Jonah – is there anything God’s calling me to do that I’m running from?

Tip: Set a regular meeting time with God every single morning that won’t be interrupted

Research shows that reading your Bible is the one practice that will improve every one of the nine habits.

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. (no other priest needed – Taco Bell Self Serve)
15 This Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

You have direct access to the God of the Universe. Why wouldn’t you go to him as much as possible? Christ followers have an advantage that the rest of the world doesn’t have. You have a direct relationship with God. You have an insider’s voice on what he is trying to do in your life. You have a special rest.

You can try to do it on your own. Or you can pause and ask him. And when you feel him nudge you, you need to respond. When I do ask God something and he answers, I need to be obedient in whatever he is calling me to do.

I respond to God quickly.

Because I know my human nature. I’ll find a reason not to. It’s too hard. It’s too inconvenient. I’m too busy. Don’t leave room in your life to be disobedient to God.

Application

If you only think about your faith on Sunday morning, you aren’t going to have a healthy spiritual life. Health comes from a daily pattern of healthy habits.

When is your resting appointment with God? (3:15 prayer alarm)
What part of the Bible will you start reading? 

James, John, Song of Solomon, Habakkuk!

How can you pause more throughout your day to talk to God?

Pausing isn’t natural. But it’s necessary.

“Pause”: Download the book. See if it helps you!

Closing: Take time to stop and talk to God. If you do, you might be surprised just how much he wants to speak to you.