“Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8).

More time with God puts you more in tune with God.

When you spend time with a friend you learn more about them. The same happens with a spouse. You start to anticipate how they will respond to certain situations. You might even start to take on some of their characteristics. You become more “in tune” with them.

The same happens with God.

One of the ways we spend time with God is to spend time doing the things he tells us to do. We tend to call these spiritual practices. These are things like prayer, Bible-reading, worship, servanthood, and even rest. They mature and strengthen us as the people of Jesus. They put us more “in tune” with God.

Kevin Joyce even talks of spiritual practices as “preventative medicine.”* They make you more spiritually robust and more capable of dealing with challenges before—not just after—they arise.

Imagine having some health concerns and you go to your doctor. And he or she says, “do this and that, and take this medicine.” 

But you don’t do either. How nonsensical would it be if you went back to your doctor and said, “Why didn’t you help me?” In response the doctor asks: “Did you do what I said you should do?” “No.” “Did you take the medicine I said you should take?” “No.” “Then why is this my fault?”

You know where I’m going with this.

Imagine saying to God, “I’m not growing in spiritual muscle. I’m never able to withstand hardship and have a hard time guarding against deception and discerning truth. I’m unable to find joy—ever—and have no idea about my purpose in life. Why aren’t you helping me?”

“Did you do what I said you should do?” “No.” “Did you take the medicine I said you should take?” “No.”

Umm…

Each situation and person is different. I don’t want to over-simplify what may be happening in your life. My intent is simply to highlight the fact that there are times when God has already prescribed help and we haven’t taken his word seriously or responded.

More time with God puts you more in tune with God.

Put in the time. And become more spiritually robust as a result.

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Notes and extra content:

–“Why are some Christians spiritually stronger than others?” Click here. Sermon. February 16, 2025.
–*Matt Baglio, The Rite (Image: 2009), 156.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.