Encouragement for Today- August 26, 2020

August 26, 2020 Spending Time With God in the Busyness of Life KIA STEPHENS Lee en español “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 (NIV) As I sat down to read my Bible, my mind was bombarded with an ever-growing to-do list. Almost immediately, I remembered wet clothes that needed to be transferred to the dryer, the email response I never sent and a project with a looming deadline. The desire to skip my time with God kept tempting me with each gnawing reminder of what I had not done. Eventually, I succumbed to the pressure of getting things done over spending time with God. I had become Martha instead of Mary, and it all began with what seemed to be a harmless decision. “Let me just check my email first,” I said to myself. Soon, one email turned into many and begot a never-ending cycle of tackling everything that appeared to be urgent and pressing. At the end of the day, I had not spent time with God at all. I wish I could say this only happened on rare occasions, but the reality is, it has happened more than I care to admit. Yet, I imagine God is not looking down in disappointment but with an extended hand, offering me an open invitation to come and spend time with Him. He does this with all of us. This is an invitation I believe Enoch accepted often because Genesis 5:24 describes him as one who “walked faithfully with God.” Given the fact that Enoch was a mere human being, this is a fascinating verse. The book of Genesis is the first place where we see the extreme distinction between man and God. Man is considered common and of low degree. God is Elohim, sovereign and omnipotent. Enoch existed before the death and resurrection of Christ, so we know that in addition to his common nature, he was also separated from God by his sin. Despite all of these barriers, Enoch’s relationship with God was one where he walked in step with his Creator. He did not walk behind God, missing His leading. Nor did he walk in front of God, moving without His authority and backing. Enoch accompanied God. This would require him to keep pace with God the Father. If it were me, I think I would either be running — out of breath, trying to keep up — or lagging very far behind. Can you imagine keeping pace with God spiritually? Surely this was cultivated over time. It is possible Enoch and God had regular, frequent conversations. Enoch must have been in the habit of repenting of his sin because sin could not persist in the presence of an omniscient God. The interaction between Enoch and God was not religious, filled with regimented rituals and routines. What they had was a genuine relationship. God loved Enoch so much that the second half of the verse tells us He simply took Enoch away. Enoch never had to taste the bitterness of death: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). He simply was and then he was no more. This is a beautiful depiction of what a relationship with God can be. We, too, though common and of low degree, can have this same type of relationship with our omnipresent God. We can walk with Him through our deepest valleys and highest mountaintops. His invitation remains open for you and me. We have the privilege and honor of walking in step with God our Father. This requires that we choose Him over every competing distraction. In doing so, we, just like Enoch, accept the invitation to spend time with our unchanging God. Dear God, thank You for being Elohim, sovereign and able to do anything. Thank You that Jesus broke down every barrier between You and me so we could have a beautiful and intimate relationship. I want to talk to You and spend time with You every day. Please help me make that a priority in my life, like Enoch did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.   TRUTH FOR TODAY: Genesis 6:9, “This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” (NIV) Hebrews 11:5-6, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away. ‘For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV) RELATED RESOURCES: Do you want to make time for God, but aren't sure where to start? We created a guide to help you start developing the habit of spending time in Scripture. The 21-Day Invitation: Steps to Reconnect with God uses these Encouragement for Today daily devotions with key verses and questions to help you process and pray through what you’ve learned. It includes tips on how to have consistent time connecting with God and a bonus guide on how to pray through Scripture. Click here to download! Know a friend who’d like to get these devotions? Send her a text or email so she can join you on the 21-Day Invitation! Sign up here for everyday encouragement and truth. CONNECT: To find out more about today’s devotion author, Kia Stephens, connect with her on her website! REFLECT AND RESPOND: How might God be prompting you to spend time with Him? How might spending more time with God benefit your life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! © 2020 by Kia Stephens. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 Ministries 630 Team Rd., Suite 100 Matthews, NC 28105 www.Proverbs31.org

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