Face Time

Monday 22 February to Sunday 28 February

Since the birth of our first daughter I have always worked from home in an office at the front of the house.  The kids were very good at not distracting me during the working day but if they felt I was working too long they would appear in the office.  Being in the middle of something on the computer they would have to work hard to get my attention.  Sometimes this resulted in them climbing on the desk to get between me and the computer screen and then staring back at me from point blank range.  They wanted all of my attention and they wanted to see my face just to check that I was not distracted by anything else!  Usually they didn’t want anything except to be with me.

The same is true of God.  He wants us to spend time with him just being.  Like my kids he wants to see us face to face – no distractions.  The shocking truth is that God is not in the slightest bit interested in what I can do for him.  He actually needs nothing, he is complete.  If he wants something doing he can dispatch an angel to cover that for him.  He started a relationship with me because he loves me, not for what I might achieve for him, but for who I am.  To think otherwise is not right thinking behind which lurks pride.

Sometimes we approach the Lord with a long list of things we need Him to sort out for us: answers to things, guidance, requests, problems, issues….  It is all legitimate stuff and often a very real expression of our weakness, but seeking the Lord only for what he can do for us is not love….  well, maybe it is a love of self, but certainly not of God!  Just looking for what God can do for us is akin to the trap the Galileans fell into; they were only interested in the miraculous signs and not Jesus the man or the message.

We are called to seek the face of the Lord……. not his hand, his arm, his foot, but his face…..

Those of us with kids love our children not for what they can do for us, but just because we love them.  Sometimes when they come to us wanting something they are very loving, complimentary and cuddly before presenting their request….. they think it will put us in a good frame of mind and we will be predisposed to grant whatever extraordinary request they have dreamed up.  Sometimes we treat God the same way…… keep him sweet with praises, worship and fasting before hitting Him with our latest wheeze!  Most of all we desire an honest relationship with our kids, not based on what we can do for each other, but on who we are.  The same is true of God….

So when we seek God’s presence let’s do it without an agenda.  Let’s do it with empty, open hands.  Sure, there is a time to do business with God.  Just like there is a time to sit down and chat things over with the kids, but first let’s be friends.

Exercise

The aim is to spend quality time with God so that we become used to being in His presence.  This is important because each week we will be building on this aspect of our time with God in order to revitalise our walk with Him.

Many people have commented on how difficult it has been to keep focused during the times in the last week – don’t worry you are not alone!  I found that the only way I could keep focussed at one stage was to repeat the prayer “Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner” over and over until I was back on track.

Continue to be intentional about setting aside regular time to be with God.  You might consider extending the time you are spending with God so that by the end of the week you are spending 5 minutes longer with Him.

If you are finding it difficult try putting on some worship music as a background, but don’t have it so loud that it becomes the focus.  You could use your iPod to block out other sounds.

Bible Verses to Ponder

My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"  Your face, LORD, I will seek. – Psalm 27:8

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit,…. – Revelation 1:9-10a

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. – Psalm 51:11

Prayer for the First Week in Lent from the Church of England

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted for forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to Your Spirit; and, as You know our weaknesses, so may we know Your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse to Remember

Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you. – Psalm 73:25

Things to do

Consider reading a Christian Classic over the lent period.  You might think about one or more of these titles:

• The Practice of the Presence of God - Conversations and Letters of Brother Lawrence ( you can download a free copy – about 20 pages – from http://www.practicegodspresence.com/brotherlawrence/ )
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald
• The Pursuit of God by A W Tozer
• The Everlasting Man by G K Chesterton
• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl
• Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster

Many of the books can be bought second hand for a few quid on Amazon or you could borrow them from a friend who has been a Christian for a while.

Set a target to be in bed 20 minutes earlier than normal so that you can either read a book like the ones from the list above or spend some face time with God before you go to sleep. 

In the evening why not turn off the TV so that you can gain a bit more extra time.