One-on-One

Luke 5:16 "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed" 

School is starting back!!! As I scroll down my Facebook Timeline I am overjoyed seeing children excited about their first day of school. Actually, I can't help but reminisce on those good ole days when I did the same. More specifically, I can remember when the teacher would teach the entire class a lesson then offer one-on-one help to those who wanted or needed a better understanding. Those one-on-one sessions not only helped my academics, but it also helped develop a relationship with my teacher. At the beginning of my sixth grade year I remember joining the band (because I was indeed a cool kid lol) where I learned to play the flute. My band director thought I was a pretty good player so he suggested my mom pay for private lessons to "perfect" my playing. From those experiences, as an adult, within my career I have one-on-one meetings with my supervisor in hopes of improving my work performance, expand my duties beyond the scope of my job description, and develop a trusting relationship with her. Those one-on-ones helped me grow from a young girl into the woman I am today.

One-on-one time is essential, effective, and necessary in almost every aspect of life. More importantly one-on-one time with God is a MUST. One-on-one's shows that you care, that you want more from the situation, it shows effort to be better, and etc. There is no way a relationship will work if you don't spend time alone fellowshipping and getting to know one another. It is in these one-on-one sessions that effective communication, trust, and love develops. This would be the place where you can be most vulnerable, open, and available. Spiritually, going to church is good but you haven't truly experienced the fullness of God until you've gotten on a more personal level; hence, a one-on-one. You'll be able to understand Him better without the baby behind you crying or the woman next to you shouting. When you understand God you're able to be a better servant of God knowing exactly what your purpose and assignment is and which steps to take to stay on the right path.

In biblical days it was common for God's people to withdraw themselves to pray in private. Some even spent days and weeks in solitary confinement, praying and spending time with God all by themselves. In the busy world we live in it's unbelievably difficult for people to experience God on a personal level because we don't MAKE time to do so. We actually focus more on our worldly relationships than we do our relationship with God. Let me tell you a secret though, there are some things that man can't provide for you. There are some questions that only God can answer and there are some places that only God can guide you. Would you follow the lead of a stranger? Who listens to someone they don't know? In fact, when we hear strangers talking around us we know it's not to us so often times we don't listen. Well if you don't have a relationship with God that is indeed what He is to you, a stranger. Maybe, just maybe you're tuning God out because you haven't taken the time to establish a relationship with Him so you don't recognize, understand, or really hear His voice.

And yes, just like a game of one-on-one basketball a one-on-one encounter with God can be intimidating at first. Always know that it is not to hurt you but to help you grow as a better player and in a more spiritual sense a better servant. The idea of a one-on-one basketball game is to see where you stand as a player so that you can grow and improve. The same thing for our relationship with God, when we meet with Him one-on-one He is able to see us for the servant that we really are and develop us into the servant that He wants us to be. Just as we crave one-on-one time with our significant others to strengthen our relationship God craves one-on-one time with us to groom us for the Kingdom. Spend more time with Him...a One-on-one may be the solution to all your problems!

#FearlessFAITH