A common argument for spending time with God, "having devotions," having a "quiet time," is that it is like meal time for the soul, the spirit. The analogy is that we would not think of starting the day without eating a good breakfast in order to make sure that our physical bodies are properly nourished. Likewise we should not start the day without making sure that our spiritual bodies receive spiritual nourishment as well.
On mulling over this analogy I think that it misses an essential part. Imagine, if you will, coming up with similar reasons to be with your spouse. Can you see yourself teaching other people that the reason you need to spend time with your spouse is to make sure that your soul is fed? How would that go over? It is not about relationship or love for the other person, it's about making sure that you stay emotionally healthy?! Can we now see the difference.
God is not primarily food for the spirit. Jesus is not fundamentally wine for the soul. Primarily, He is a person! We spend time with Him, listening to Him, talking with Him (not to Him) because we like being with Him, just enjoying the fact that He is there with us.
Now we are freed from obligatory ritualistic "devotions." There is a time for disciplined ritualistic form -- when we are learning something new or performing a standardized task. But we do not do this with the ones we love, with those who are truly our close friends and relatives. We look forward to the times when we can be together. We relish time spent catching up on what has happened. Most of all we just like being in each other's company. And when something keeps us from being able to do that, we really miss it. But it is not because we have "missed a meal." It is because we have missed a person, a loved one. And that is what "devotions" should really be all about.
On mulling over this analogy I think that it misses an essential part. Imagine, if you will, coming up with similar reasons to be with your spouse. Can you see yourself teaching other people that the reason you need to spend time with your spouse is to make sure that your soul is fed? How would that go over? It is not about relationship or love for the other person, it's about making sure that you stay emotionally healthy?! Can we now see the difference.
God is not primarily food for the spirit. Jesus is not fundamentally wine for the soul. Primarily, He is a person! We spend time with Him, listening to Him, talking with Him (not to Him) because we like being with Him, just enjoying the fact that He is there with us.
Now we are freed from obligatory ritualistic "devotions." There is a time for disciplined ritualistic form -- when we are learning something new or performing a standardized task. But we do not do this with the ones we love, with those who are truly our close friends and relatives. We look forward to the times when we can be together. We relish time spent catching up on what has happened. Most of all we just like being in each other's company. And when something keeps us from being able to do that, we really miss it. But it is not because we have "missed a meal." It is because we have missed a person, a loved one. And that is what "devotions" should really be all about.
