Face Time with God – Come as You Are

Posted by Elizabeth Welsh on March 25, 2013 · 5 Comments 

Have you ever used Face Time on your phone? For some reason, Jay engaged his without realizing it and every time he called Lisa, our daughter, his face popped up. I tried to fix it and then my face kept popping up. When I saw it, I was mortified and quickly told Lisa not to be alarmed, that I wasn’t dead; I just looked like it!

I don’t think I’ll be using Face Time very often. I’d rather someone picture what they think I look like than to have to endure the real thing.

I’ve just begun a study on what it means to have Face Time with God. Would you like to join me? We won’t need to apply makeup or fix our hair. I’m pretty sure God is happy to engage face time with us any time we’re willing. So, come as you are!

First, let’s consider what we hope to gain from our times with God. You may simply want to know Him better. Or to grow in your faith. Perhaps you have a specific area in which you’d like to see God work. There are no wrong answers. If our hopes line up with His will,  He will fulfill the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4) And if they don’t, He’ll change our desires. 🙂 The key to our face times with God is  to delight in Him. And He’ll do the rest.

 

One more thing. When we meet with God, we can expect Him to shine His light on the dark areas of our lives. But that’s a good thing. For with His light come peace, hope and victory over the darkness. I promise; better yet, God promises! (Psalm 89:15-17)

Years ago, when I decided to receive Christ as Lord of my life, I prayed a specific prayer. “Make me the person you want me to be.”  God began immediately to work. He gave me a peace that surprised even me. And He put within my heart a love for people that was different than I’d known before. He also began to work in the tangible areas of my life. At the time, I smoked. But I wasn’t so quick to give it up. After that, it seemed every time I reached for my Bible, the pages would fall open to I Corinthians 6:19-20.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

For two years, I read that verse over and over. I guess I’m a slow learner. Finally, the Lord and I won the battle. That was 46 years ago but I can assure you God is still working in other areas of my life. Remember the old saying, PBPGINFWMY Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.

As we take this journey together, I promise I’ll be patient with you and hope you’ll do the same for me. Meanwhile, let’s decide what we hope to gain from our face times with God. Remember, come as you are and together we can claim the following promise:

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:16-18

Filed under Food for Thought · Tagged with body, Face Time with God, holy temple, Psalm 37:4, smoking, victory over darkness