Many people call themselves Christians, but do not really have an intimate, personal relationship with the messiah. There are two easy ways to identify such these Christians:

· they usually try to do things for G-d instead of trying to do things with G-d

· they usually seek to have G-d's blessings instead of G-d's presence

Indeed, many people who call themselves Christians would have trouble imagining what I mean by "doing things with G-d" or "having G-d's presence." We can do better beloved we can--reach higher. Knowing about G-d has its place but knowing G-d is just as possible and much more important.

G-d is everywhere, but not equally so. The Tenach speaks of the Shechinah of G-d: G-d's manifest presence in his cloud, or above the ark of the covenant. Scripture also uses a metaphor of G-d "turning his face" towards places or people. In other words, just because G-d is everywhere (omnipresent) does not mean we always have spiritual connectedness with G-d. This is an internal thing beyond the other.

By "spending time with G-d" I mean "spending time spiritually connected with G-d."

Why do we spend time with G-d?

The answer is has a paradox here to it. I will explain:

Scripture talks about why man was created; in order to have a relationships with G-d, to give G-d glory and worship. That is the primary reason we were created and should be our top priority in life.

...everyone who bears my name, whom I created for my glory...[Isaiah 43:7]

...all things were created by him, and for him. [Colossians 1:16-17]

...you created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. [Revelation 4:11]

According to secular thinking, this is nonsense. We are trained to think, "me first!". Worship then appears to be a waste of time. It often seems better to be working, earning money, helping others, or pursuing our own desires. Even believers with the fullest relationships with G-d can be ensnared by such thinking (think of David's time of sinfulness, or how Solomon fell).

We spend time with G-d because G-d wants us to and created us to do so. Looking at scripture, or actually experiencing this makes that truth obvious. Looking at the world, or experiencing sin and iniquity, hides that truth and makes it unobvious.

Everytime someone asks this question, G-d cries in both joy and sadness. I'll explain with a story.

Two parents had a workaholic child from whom they not heard in months. One day, a friend approaches them and says, "I saw your child, the workaholic, yesterday..." Both parents' eyes light up. The friend continues, "I was asked to deliver a message to you..." The father draws in his breath, and the mother rests a hand on her heart. The messenger continues, "You workaholic child has been thinking of you and has set aside an entire hour this weekend to talk to you on the phone!..." Both parents struggle to hold back tears. The messenger concludes, "But, you'll have to make the call, since your child confessed loosing your phone number."

You see, the question "How do we spend time with G-d?" is not the right question at all. Scripture tells us that we should try to always be with G-d [Isaiah 58:11 and 60:11, Psalm 73:23].

The question now might be "How do I begin to spend time with G-d?" And the follow-up question would is "How do I keep from leaving G-d's presence when 'real life' distracts me?" Before I answer those two questions, I need to address the matter of always being with G-d.

Yeshua's prayers in John 17 and describe how we should have intimacy with G-d:

"Holy Father, guard them by the power of your name, which you have given to me, so that they may be one, just as we are," from [John 17:11] Paul's writings explain "being one" with G-d in another way:

You get stripped away the old self, with its ways, and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of our creator. [Colossians 9-10] [Ephesians 4:21-24.]

If you are trying to "fix up" the old self, you are on the wrong track! Spending time now in G-d's presence, where G-d himself will continually renews the new self he wants you to be!

Of the many ways in which we can spend time with G-d, there are three easy ways to start with. All of them are only suggestions: what for one person works as spending time with G-d another person might have to try another way

Pray, and ask G-d how he suggests the two of you spend time together!

1) The first easy way to spend time with G-d is by worshiping G-d with words and music. Speaking out loud to Him just as if you are talking to me. This is most important (as much as possible for you at this time) give yourself time alone with Him, so there are the fewest distractions. It is also an unproductive activity by a secular perspective, so for many people the tendency to only do things for G-d can be left behind.

2) The second way to spend time with G-d is asking for the Holy Spirit that G-d has promised to send to all believers (Luke 11:13). We can also ask for other things, but G-d's spirit is one aspect of his manifest presence is something we can ask for without doubting the appropriateness of our petition. Ask for G-d to increase your hunger for him! While worshipping, ask G-d to manifest himself so strongly that you can feel Him! He says you have not cause you ask not....so ask!

3) The third way to spend time with G-d is simply listening to G-d. Become silent and listen for that still small voice. Almost everyone who prays spends too much time talking or singing, and not enough time listening anyway. Listening for long periods of time takes practice, but listening just a little more than currently done is not too hard.

Some people have even called by G-d to spend so much time listening that they cannot do very many other "good works"! It is possible that G-d prioritizes, in your life, spending time with him. The apostles had this a calling. Maybe you do too!

About this time, when the number of disciples was growing, the Greek-speaking Jews began complaining against those who spoke Hebrew that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution [of food]. So the Twelve [apostles] called a general meeting of the disciples and said, "It isn't appropriate that we should neglect the Word of G-d in order to serve tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among yourselves who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint them to be in charge of this important matter [serving the messianic community]. But we will give ourselves continually to praying and to serving the Word." What they said was agreeable to the who gathering. [Acts 6:1-5]

Studying scripture can be done with G-d, as well as for G-d.

Praying for each other is a time when everyone can pray as an apostle does, with listening and then speaking what was heard.

Once you have a daily habit of worshipping G-d with music, work towards inviting G-d to be with you while you are doing other things, the normal 'real life' things that fill up your day.

Often we desire to be with G-d, but are not sure what say. That is when the gift of speaking in tongues allows us to not only speak to G-d but to worship him also. When we do not know what to say, or when we are busy doing something that takes enough attention that we cannot think what to say.

According to Matthew 25:40, serving each other can also be a way of serving G-d. However, be careful viewing service as worship. It is easy to fall into the Enemy's snare of doing things for G-d instead of with G-d. Maintain your worship in other ways also!

Start this by speaking to the Lord about everything that is happening to you through out your day whether out loud or silently He hears you.

Soon all these things I have listed above will become habits and patterns in your life and you will find yourself speaking to Him about everything before you even speak to others. You will find Him in every area of your life and hearing His responses to you clearly.

Your Love will grow for Him like never before as your relationship grows. Just like with any other person you spend time with grows.