TAWG

Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. (Exodus 4:2-3 NIV)

Many times, our God-encounters leave us struggling, confused, or even afraid.  Rather than face the fear, we try to run away from it.  The problem with this approach is that God is everywhere.  We can never run away from God, or the call God has put on our lives.  We need to face the fear, work through the confusion, and fight the good fight.

Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has appeared to you." (Exodus 4:4-5 NIV)

Moses did this in his time alone with God.  It was in this time alone that Moses tried to push back.  He asked questions to make sure he was hearing God clearly.  He even asked God to help him work through the fears.  God did just that.  Moses didn’t think that the Israelites would listen to him.  God gave him signs as evidence that God was at work.

Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous--it had become as white as snow. "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second. (Exodus 4:6-8 NIV)

Over the years, I’ve had quite a few different calendar and task systems.  They’ve ranged from paper to electronic, expensive to free.  If you had the chance to look at my calendar or task systems over the years, many of them would have time blocked out for “TAWG.”  That is my scheduled Time Alone With God.  When I take this time, it makes all the difference in the world for my day.  That’s because God uses this time to remove my fears, answer my questions, and help me with my struggles.  God helps me with my doubts, so my day is spent walking with Him.  I trust God, in many ways because of how He uses my TAWG.

But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." (Exodus 4:9 NIV)

The thing about Time Alone With God is that you are alone…with God.  No one can do it for you.  No one can be there with you.  You need to schedule the time.  You need to spend the time.  You need to make it a priority for yourself.  You need to lead yourself.  It all comes down to you…and God…and God is ready to meet you there.  Talk to Him.  Listen to Him by reading His Word.  It makes all the difference in the world.

So, how about you?  Do you spend Time Alone With God?  How often?  Does God meet you there?  Does God help you with your doubts, your struggles, and your fears?  Do you talk with Him?  Do you listen to Him?  Does it give you peace?  How is your TAWG?