HomeWord - February 11, 2014

 Relationship

This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, “We are his offspring.” —Acts 17:27-28 [NLT]

During premarital counseling my husband and I were given the task of going through a list of words with our parents, asking them to share their thoughts. Words such as: Love, money, holidays, and communication.  In this exercise, communication got the biggest response. “Communication is the most important thing, but it is something we are often not good at.” Ten years into our marriage, I can see how this can happen. Life is busy! We have three kids, work, school, soccer, friends, family, and the list goes on! At the end of each day all we want to do is chill out and watch TV. It can feel exhausting to engage in conversation!

But what would our marriage be like if we never conversed? What would it be like never sharing our feelings or our daily experiences with each other? What if we always sat silently in front of the TV? We wouldn’t have much of a relationship. We would be two people co-existing. Roommates. Business partners. I want to know my husband intimately. I want him to know me! One way to accomplish this is to regularly take the time to listen and share. We have to take the time to exit the craziness of life and connect.

How much more so does God want to intimately know us? As today’s Scripture points out, “he is not far from us.”  When I feel God is distant, I have started asking myself the question, “When did I last spend time with God?” Typically, I find I have not been spending much time in prayer or meditating on His Word. I realize that if I spend little time with my spouse, I will hardly know him, and the same principle holds true in my relationship with God. If I want to know God intimately and feel connected, I need to spend time with Him.

On my left finger I have a wedding ring to symbolize my connection with my husband. It serves as a reminder of my commitment to him and to our marriage. So, I have decided to put a cross in my bathroom where I will see it each morning as a way to remind me of my desire to know God, to seek Him, and of my commitment to Him.

Life gets busy. Distractions are everywhere. In the midst of today’s craziness, may you be reminded of the importance and value of connecting with those people you love most, and with the Lord.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Today, would you characterize relationship with God as connected or distant? Why?

2. What can you do daily to help remind yourself of the importance of spending time with God?

FURTHER READING:

1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13

Sign up here for Parenting Resources and other HomeWord publications.