The Dangers of NOT Spending Time with God

I was recently just going through a season where I was not just spending enough time with God. I had just came back from a conference and had been so filled up in the Lord! I knew that the enemy was going to come for me when I returned home. My days started feeling like they were going by faster and I felt like I was literally going from one activity to the next and it was just not enough time to even recap on my day! Before I knew it, it was time to go to bed! I felt rushed! I was always running late and waking up late... Oddly, what I noticed was that even though I wasn't spending as much time with God as I had liked, I still felt close to Him and He always found a way to let me know that He was still there and He still had my back. [Now, I am not by any means saying that it's okay to not spend time with God because you will still feel close to Him. Just hear me out...] This tripped me out because any other time I was being disobedient and didn't spend time with God, I felt so far away from Him. So, I wondered frequently why did I still feel so close to Him and why even though I was being disobedient, I didn't feel like I was?

One night I was in the shower and it came to me! God was using me. I was in the shower declaring that I was going to get it together and I was getting right back on track the following day. And then I noticed that I began to think about what I had learned during this season of not spending time with God. Then it dawned on me! I realized that God had been using me! He simply allowed me to go through this test so I may be able to share with others the dangers that can come from us not spending time with God. I knew that it was His intention to use me because even though I knew I was being disobedient and I felt convicted... He assured me that He was still here with me, even though I hadn't been spending time with Him. He was just simply using me. Isn't he amazing?!

So, here it is! What I learned during my season of not spending time with God:

1). My mind is cluttered when I don't spend time with God.

When I don't spend time with God, its harder for me to think straight. I can't think straight because I have different thoughts in my mind at one time and the bad part about having different things on your mind at one time and not having a silent mind, is that its then hard for you to hear Gods voice. The bible describes Gods voice as still and small in 1 Kings 19:12 KJV. How can God speak to our mind in a still and small voice if it's cluttered?

2). Im harder on myself and so, I don't have mercy on myself (or others in that case) when I don't spend time with God.

When I don't spend time with God I do not have mercy on myself and so, I don't have mercy and grace for others either. I soon start to believe that I am supposed to be doing more, more, more, and that what I am doing (or not doing) is not good enough, instead of believing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. When I am consistently spending time with God I realize and I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and I have peace about that. I know that God is intentional and that if I didn't do something... it was for a reason. As simple as that.

The third and final thing I learned when I went through this season of not spending time with God is:

3). I start to lose my peace about different situations in my life.

When I don't spend time with God I begin to over exaggerate about things and panic about things I would once know to stay calm about. I also notice myself worrying instead of giving it to God. I try to take matters in my own hands instead of giving it to God. For example, when I'm not connected to God through spending time with Him, I trip out about bad grades instead of declaring and knowing that God will handle this. That I don't have to worry about this bad grade because my Father will handle this and things will work out for my good. I don't have to worry about small hiccups in school; I wasn't created to worry. Instead of worrying, its better to fully submit the situation to God and give all your trust to Him.

I know so many of us are being attacked with this test and I believe God wanted me to share my experiences with you all so that you can come into the knowledge of the dangers of not spending time with God. Spending time with Him is the key to being in alignment to what He wants to share with us. When we are not spending time with God we lose our peace, we start to trip out about things we once didn't and we don't have grace on ourselves, let alone others. It's because I went through this season of not spending time with God that I understand the importance of spending time with Him. I know what will happen if I do not spend time with Him and so I can now choose to spend time with Him, knowing this.

Let's start to get back to that place where we are intentional about sitting at the feet of the Father and staying connected to Him. I'll be praying for you all. We can do this, we WILL NOT let the enemy make us believe that not spending time with God is okay!

Love you all,

Gerri, XOXO