‍Devotional from Pastor Tim Chalas

“How’s your quiet time?” It’s a well-meaning question, but often one that carries hidden pressure. We’ve come to think of “spending time with God” as something we must achieve, schedule, or maintain in order to stay close to Him. But Scripture offers a radically different perspective: Christ is in you, and you are in Him — always.

The gospel isn’t about working to get to God; it’s about being united with Him forever. Colossians 3:3 says, “You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” That means you are always spending time with God. Whether you’re praying, stuck in traffic, doing laundry, or grocery shopping, God is just as present — because He’s in you, and you’re in Him.

Of course, being intentional in prayer, worship, and bible study is valuable. But those don’t make you closer to God — they simply help you enjoy the closeness that already exists. Union, not effort, is your foundation. You are fused with Christ — one spirit with Him — and in every moment and activity, God dwells in you.

So live today in the beautiful awareness that God is not found in a quiet time or a journal entry — He is found in you. And wherever you go, He goes too. Start enjoying the truth that He’s always with you, and you are always with Him. That is freedom. That is intimacy. That is rest.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. — Colossians 3:3