Eliminating the Should

WEEKLY OVERVIEW

In our first week of Catalyst, we’ll explore seven answers to the heart’s most important question: “Why?” Until we understand why spending time alone with God every day is worth the time and energy it takes, we’ll never be able to develop consistency or go as deep into God’s presence as we were created for. May you realize both the depth of your need and the goodness and availability of your Father as you discover your why.

DEVOTIONAL

The more responsibilities I get in life, the more I’ve begun to despise the word should. If we allow it to, life will pile on a bunch of shoulds until all our joy, spontaneity, and personality have been smothered out entirely. Sometimes, even our relationship with God can feel more like a should than a want. We should give; we should go to church; we should spend time alone with God. Pretty soon, God starts to seem a lot more like a taskmaster than a loving Father. 

If we allow it to, life will pile on a bunch of shoulds until all our joy, spontaneity, and personality have been smothered out entirely.

The more consistently I draw near to the true heart of God, the quicker I am learning that he’s not that way at all. In fact, Scripture is filled with God speaking of his desire to be wanted by his people. Psalm 27:8 serves as a model of a truer way of seeking God: “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’” 

Seeking God was always designed to be a response to his seeking of us. Our love is meant to be reciprocated, not manufactured. The last thing God wants to be is another should. His plan is to love you so often and so well that you can’t help but love him back. His desire is to reveal how near he is to you and how full his heart is for you that you can’t help but want to spend time alone with him. 

Take time today to discover what shoulds have crept into your relationship with God that didn’t really come from the Father at all. And make space to discover that you were made to dwell in the presence of God. May your heart be filled with devotion for God as you respond to his present and perfect love. 

GUIDED PRAYER

1. What parts of your relationship with God feel more like a should than a want? Take a moment to reflect and write them down.       

2.  Ask God for a revelation of his love and pursuit of you. Meditate on what Scripture says about God’s unwavering love toward you. 

3. Respond to the reality of God’s love with your own love toward him. Cast down any should at the feet of your loving Father. Thank him for what he’s done for you. Thank him for his Son. Thank him for the Holy Spirit. And reflect on how good it is to have a real, eternal relationship with a God who is love.

GO . . . 

God would much rather you seek him with honesty than seek him with words or actions you don’t mean. He can take your honesty. He won’t turn away from you. He won’t stop loving you. Coming before God with honesty opens your heart to receive his love in a real way, in a way you need. If you don’t feel like doing something you know you should, talk to him about it! Ask him for the revelation you need to live your life wholeheartedly. You were made for everything God asks of you. Everything he leads you to is good. May today mark an important step forward in your journey to wholehearted, abundant living, a journey free from shoulds and filled with desire for the life God has so lovingly laid before you. 

I hope Catalyst Week One has helped you understand why spending time alone with God every day is worth the time and energy it takes.  My prayer is that it has helped you realize both the depth of your need and the goodness and availability of your Father as you discover your why. Ultimately, I hope it has helped you begin to develop consistency in going deep into God's presence. We hope this Plan encouraged you.

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