If you’ve been around babies, you know they have a distinct ability to communicate their needs–by crying. They cry because they need milk, comfort, and attention, and the volume and intensity of their cries prompt us to respond quickly. We want to meet their needs as soon as possible so they’ll stop crying!
Have you ever considered spending time with God in his Word as your need for spiritual milk? That’s how Peter described our need for nourishment. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation–if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Pet 2:2-3).
It’s interesting that the word for ‘long’ is an imperative. It’s a command. We are commanded to long for the Word. The milk of God’s Word is the pure, uncontaminated, and nutritionally perfect food we need most.
Time with God in his Word is the spiritual milk your heart craves! His Word has a lot to say about the benefits and privileges of drawing near to him. Here are some verses to jumpstart your time with God.
20 Bible Verses About Spending Time with God
- James 4:8a (ESV)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. - Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
Now, as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” - 1 Chronicles 16:11 (ESV)
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! - Luke 6:12 (ESV)
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night, he continued in prayer to God. - Psalm 5:3 (ESV)
O Lord, in the morning, you hear my voice; in the morning, I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. - Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. - Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)
Pray without ceasing. - Matthew 14:23 (ESV)
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. - Psalm 1:2 (ESV)
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. - Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees you in secret, will reward you. - 1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. - Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Psalm 62:8 (ESV)
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. - Psalm 95:6 (ESV)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! - Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Psalm 119:15 (ESV)
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. - Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Deer pants and babies cry
The same word Peter used for longing for spiritual milk is found in Psalm 42:1.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
Do you crave time with God in his Word like a deer goes looking for water or a baby longs for milk? It should be our all-consuming passion, but we don’t always crave it like we should.
The next time you sit down to spend time with God, ask God to help you crave it like you should. I’ve found John Piper’s acronym I-O-U-S a helpful tool to recenter my mind and heart on God’s Word. You can start by praying that God would help incline your heart to his testimonies (Psalm 119:36). Ask him to open your eyes to the wondrous things in his Word (Psalm 119:18) . Next, ask him to unite your thoughts and focus your attention (Psalm 86:11), and lastly, ask him to satisfy your soul with his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).
Cry out to God! Pant after him. Spending time with him. He is what your heart craves most.
Cara
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20 Bible Verse About Intimacy with God
P.S. Acronyms are helpful tools for spending time with God. Grab this free IOUS and ACTS bookmark to help you in your time with him.
