Shaped by Him
I love going on dates with my wife. I will confess we don’t go on dates as frequently as we would like, but we have learned that being intentional never to stop dating is one key ingredient to a healthy and happy marriage. Conceptually this makes sense with any relationship. Both quality and quantity time requires intentional effort to build relationships. This principle is not exclusive to marriage and family. It also applies to our communion with God.
When studying Exodus 33, we learn much about God’s character, His desire for the good of His people, the demonstration of His grace in response to sin, and the impact of intercession and time with God as Moses met regularly in the Tent of Meeting. This models for us what intentionality with God should look like and even how it impacts our relationship with others.
Our motivation should not simply be to “be a better Christian” by working harder and diligently applying habits to spiritual discipline. Books and podcasts abound on how to apply spiritual disciplines. I’ve read many of them and sincerely benefited from their resources. That being said, we must guard against the subtle drift to legalism and simply view prayer and Bible reading as habits of religious activity. Instead, they are relational pursuits to understand God better and allow Him to shape our hearts.
There is a temptation to simply check the box off of doing church things rather than a humble heart that seeks to know Him more. Additionally, there is a temptation to approach God with intentional regularity to earn His favor and manipulate Him for our wishes. God is not domesticated and cannot be tamed by your behavior. The opposite is true. You are not praying in order to mold God to your will. We approach Him in humility so that our will is shaped by Him and our desires align with His heart.
This reality leads us to assess our motivation and better align ourselves with His purposes. Draw near to Him. He desires what is best for you and on His terms. Avoid the trap of excuses to prevent you from spending both quality and quantity time with Him. We’d love to come alongside you and teach you how to read, teach you how to pray, and guide you to pursue Jesus. It is worth it!
