Spending time alone with God is vitally important for every Christian. Here are some key reasons why we must make personal time with God a priority.
1. It allows us to build an intimate relationship with God
Just like any relationship, our relationship with God requires quality one-on-one time in order to grow. When we spend dedicated time alone with God in prayer, worship, meditation on His Word, and listening for His voice, we get to know Him on a deeper level. As we set aside distractions and focus our attention on Him, our souls are spiritually nourished and we experience a closeness with God that cannot be replicated through any other means (Psalm 63:1, Luke 10:38-42).
Intimate time with God allows Him to reveal His character and heart to us. As we open our hearts to Him, get real about our struggles, and listen for His comforting and guiding voice, we find safety, acceptance, wisdom, and rest in His presence. Our faith and trust in Him grows exponentially when we experience God personally and vulnerably. There is no replacement for one-on-one time developing a friendship with our Heavenly Father.
2. It transforms us into Christ’s image
Spending time beholding God in Scripture and prayer shapes us to become more like Jesus. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Gazing on the glory of Christ through spiritual disciplines turns our affections toward Him and shifts our desires to align with His.
The more we get to know Jesus through time alone with Him, the more our thoughts, words, and actions reflect His character. Our sinful tendencies and fleshly compulsions start to melt away as we focus our eyes on Christ daily. By developing a consistent prayer and Scripture reading habit, we’ll notice how He slowly but surely transforms us to radiate His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. It strengthens us to resist temptation and sin
Time alone with God equips us with spiritual strength to stand firm when temptations strike. Jesus modeled this when He used solitary prayer to prepare for His temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). When we fill up on God’s Word and communicate with Him regularly, our minds and spirits are renewed so we can resist enemy attacks.
Practicing spiritual disciplines keeps our defenses up because God renews our minds to discern truth from deception (Romans 12:2). Staying constantly connected to Christ keeps us from being led astray by the flesh or demonic influences trying to pull us into sin. Consistent time with Jesus helps us pray and stay watchful against the enemy’s schemes (Luke 21:36, 1 Peter 5:8).
4. It orders our priorities and perspectives
It’s easy to get caught up in life’s busyness, demands, and anxieties – self-focus, career pursuits, family responsibilities, and more. Spending regular quiet time with the Lord realigns our priorities and brings proper perspective when things feel out of balance. As we seek Him first above all else, He helps rearrange our schedule and restores us to wholeness (Matthew 6:33).
Talking honestly with God about everything going on in our lives and laying it all before Him brings clarity and direction. We gain His kingdom perspective on what’s truly important when we get alone with God and meditate on His truth. He recalibrates our mindset to what will last for eternity. Confusion and anxiety are replaced with wisdom, peace and purpose in Christ when we meet with Him consistently.
5. It fuels us to serve others and fulfill God’s mission
We quickly burn out in ministry if we aren’t regularly connecting with God for spiritual nourishment and guidance. Jesus operated from this principle, getting alone with God before performing miracles, selecting the disciples, and other major works (Luke 5:16). His intimate communion with the Father fueled everything He did.
When we spend time worshiping God, praying, and listening to His voice through Scripture reading, we gain the power, wisdom, and endurance needed for Kingdom work. Our souls get aligned with His purposes, filled with His heart for people. Experiencing the presence and heart of God each day is what propels us out into the world to serve others with His grace, mercy and love.
6. It cultivates gratitude, praise and worship
It’s difficult to maintain an attitude of gratitude and praise when life gets stressful and difficult. Our natural tendency is to complain and become anxious or depressed. But spending consistent quiet time focused on God typically cultivates more thankfulness and worship.
As we reflect on God’s goodness, faithfulness, love and salvation, our hearts well up with praise to Him. Thankfulness ascends naturally as we experience His presence and power. Regular time in prayer, Scripture and solitude trains our hearts to worship God throughout the day, even in hardship. Meeting with Him fuels our passion and capacity to live a lifestyle of wholehearted praise.
7. It guards our minds and hearts in God’s peace
This world is filled with chaos, conflict, destruction, negativity, and violence. When we aren’t proactively guarding our minds and connecting intimately with God, those forces can wreak havoc on our thoughts and emotions. We become filled with anxiety, anger, and despair.
But when we spend consistent, quality time with the Lord each day, Scripture promises we’ll experience God’s perfect peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 26:3). His presence calms our minds, soothes our hearts, and casts out fear. Meeting with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, equips us to dwell in Kingdom rest amidst earthly turmoil.
8. It keeps us spiritually awake, watchful and ready for Christ’s return
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to become sluggish, distracted, and intoxicated with the cares of this world. If we aren’t watchful, we drift into spiritual laziness and compromise. We live unaware of spiritual realities and unprepared for Jesus’ return (Matthew 25:1-13).
But when we’re disciplined to get regular alone time with God, He keeps our spiritual eyes open and fixed on eternal realities. Staying awake spiritually means praying persistently, denying fleshly cravings, resisting conformity to the world, standing courageously for Christ, loving others boldly, and proclaiming the Gospel with our lives (1 Peter 5:8, Romans 13:11-14).
9. It shifts our focus from self to God and others
Unfortunately, many of us today are narcissistic, insecure, and overly self-analytical. We obsess over our own struggles, needs, opinions, desires, and problems. Quiet time with God recalibrates our focus. As we open the Word, the Spirit redirects our eyes off ourselves and unto Jesus and others around us.
Setting aside regular time for prayer, study, and meditation reminds us we aren’t the center of the universe. We surrender control, humble ourselves before God, and align with His priorities and purposes. Our interests expand beyond “me” to “you, God” and “who around me can I love and serve today?” Solitude with Christ recenters and refocuses our gaze.
10. It gives us discernment for complex issues and decisions
We are faced with hard dilemmas and situations every day – broken relationships, job changes, moral choices, fears about the future, and more. Our human logic alone isn’t enough to know how to process and respond. We all desperately need God’s wisdom and clarity.
Time spent waiting on the Lord and seeking His face equips us with discernment for all of life’s decisions big and small. As we prayerfully study Scripture and listen for His voice, the Holy Spirit grants us understanding beyond our own. He guides our steps, reveals potential consequences, and aligns our choices with His will when we commune with Him consistently (Proverbs 2:1-15).
11. It allows God’s gifts and calling to mature and flourish
Every Christ-follower has a unique God-given purpose and spiritual gifts to build up the church and reach the world. But if we aren’t getting alone with God regularly, those callings and gifts remain dormant and undeveloped.
Our spiritual gifts – evangelism, service, teaching, encouragement, generosity – blossom fully when we devote time seeking God’s face. Our specific Kingdom purpose unfolds clearly through prayer and studying the Word. Saying “yes” to quality alone time with God allows Him to fan our gifts and talents into flame for maximum impact.
12. It keeps our lamp burning bright for Christ
Jesus urges believers to keep our lamps burning and stay ready for His return at any moment (Luke 12:35). The oil that keeps our lamp lit and shines light into dark places is the power of the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit’s power burns low when we aren’t connecting intimately with God daily.
Regular time worshiping, praying, and listening to the Lord through Scripture keeps our wick trimmed and fueled. It rekindles spiritual passion and stirs up God’s gifts in us. Our light burns brighter in a dark world when we fill up on time with Christ often. Our lamp of devotion stays lit as we wait eagerly for His glorious appearing.
Clearly, no Christian can thrive long-term without cultivating a rich personal prayer and devotional life. We desperately need time alone with God in prayer and Scripture to grow deep spiritual roots and bear Christ-exalting fruit. As we make communion with Jesus our highest priority each day, everything else in life finds its proper place under His loving Lordship.