So - What Purpose?

Okay, so we decided to approach our quiet time with a purpose. What does that mean? What purpose are we talking about? If quiet time is suppose to have purpose then how do we figure out what purpose and how do we know we have achieved our purpose?

Not easy questions, but I think important to consider as we continue on our journey. Let's go back to the analogy of the business meeting. Whenever we go to a business meeting, we expect it to have an agenda, some reason for us to get together, some expected outcome. We don't just gather around the table to look at each other. We expect to get something out of it. But each person there may expect something different. The boss may expect agreement with a new product idea he thought up last week. The staff may be expecting announcement of a raise. The finance officer may be expecting layoffs to be announced because of a deficit in cash flow. But everyone comes to the meeting with expectations.

Our individual expectations will be different when we meet with God, also. Hopefully, we can all agree on at least one purpose - to learn more about him and grow our relationship with him. But that will probably not be your only purpose for meeting with him on any given day. You will bring your concerns, your joys, your needs, your frustrations - bring everything to him. The Psalmist reminds us to "cast your cares upon the Lord." (Ps 55:22) Leaning on him will build your relationship with him as you learn to trust him with everything you have - including you.

So we start our list of expectations with building our relationship with God. Second might be understanding his purpose for our life. Third might be working through a particular issue you're facing. Whatever it is you want to meet with God about, have a purpose. Expect to hear from him. Expect an outcome - although it may not be the answer you want, if it is from God it will be the answer you need!

Will Rogers use to say it is much better to aim at something and miss it than to aim at nothing and hit it. That's true of our quiet time with God. If we don't know why we are meeting with him or what we want from our encounter with him, how will we know whether or not we are growing or achieving what he wants with us in those precious moments we have with him?

Next time we will begin to discuss the components of our quiet time - scripture reading; prayer; memorization; meditation; Bible study.

Until then, may God bless your purpose filled time with him.