Connecting with God

People often wonder why God will not answer their prayers. They accuse Him of not caring about them (1 Peter 5:7). It could be that we do not have a personal relationship with Him and He does not know us (Matthew 7:21-23). Sin may be blocking God from hearing our words or tainting the message of our prayer. Possibly, we do not spend enough time listening in order to hear His voice.

God answers our prayers with a "yes", "no", or "wait". Our Father knows the end from the beginning and knows what is best for us (Isaiah 46:10). He is not spiteful or vindictive. He does not punish us. He will discipline His children; but though He wounds, He always heals (Job 5:18). He will also heal our land, if His Saints will humble themselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14; Ezekiel 22:30).

A lack of a personal relationship with God (John 3:18), sinful behavior or a hectic lifestyle with little prayer and devotion hinder our ability to connect with God (Isaiah 59:2). Only repentance cleanses us as we confess our failings (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2). With intimate times of prayer, we have more power to stand against spiritual warfare, trials and temptations (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

King David realized that God did not want sacrifice from us as much as He wanted obedience and devotion (Hebrews 10:8-9). God would rather have us praying than working for Him without His Spirit's direction. He created works for us to do, but we will only know what they are as we pray (Ephesians 2:10). God's truest desire is that we love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength (Luke 10:27).

Prayer:

Father God, we ask You to fill us with a deep desire and hunger to know You more and to connect with You through our prayer life and Bible study. Our heart thirsts after You, like the deer pants for water (Psalm 42:1). Fill us with Your Holy Spirit every day and cause us to hear Your loving kindness each new morning (Ephesians 5:18-19; Psalm 143:8). Teach us to use Your Word to pray effectual prayers.

Thought for the Day:

If we remain connected to God, we will bear fruit for His Kingdom; but apart from Him, we can do nothing. - John 15:5-8

Meditation

Many people wonder how to meditate on God's Word. I have a favorite method that really works for me. I take a verse, or part of a verse, and I meditate on and stress one word at a time. This way, the value of the verse sinks into the very depths of my soul. For instance, look at Psalm 23:1 - capitalized words are emphasized.

THE Lord

The LORD is

The Lord IS my shepherd

The Lord is MY shepherd

The Lord is my SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd, I SHALL NOT

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not WANT.

This does not change the meaning of the verse, but it puts the emphasis on a different word each time. This process grasps my soul to its very core, as the truth of each word infiltrates every cell in my body and its truth reverberates through my entire being! This method also helps me to memorize the verse a little at a time, because I clearly see each and every word.

Try it again with Psalm 104:1 -

BLESS the Lord,

Bless THE Lord

Bless the LORD

Bless the Lord, O my SOUL.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O LORD my God

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord MY God

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, My GOD

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, My God, YOU are

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, My God, You ARE

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, My God, You are VERY great

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, My God, You are very GREAT.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to hide Your Word in our heart, so that we will not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Meditating on Your Word encourages our soul, which gives life to our body (Psalm 43:5; Romans 8:11). Help us to fall asleep every night, deliberating on Your Words that we have hidden in our heart. Cause us to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for we put all of our trust in You; help us to know the right way to live, as we lift up our soul to You (Psalm 143:8).

Thought for the Day:

I look forward to the night watches, so that I can meditate on God's Word. - Psalm 119:148

No One Loves Us Better

Troubles are all round us on every side, but we are not shut in; things are hard for us, but God shows us a way out of them (2 Corinthians 4:8). We do not worry about tomorrow, because He leads us one step at a time (Matthew 6:31-34). We can face each day braced by God’s Spirit, directed by His leading and praising God for who He is.

Then, God will pour showers of blessings on us all the days of our life. God’s sheltering arms keep us from falling and He lifts us up when we are discouraged (Psalm 145:14). His unconditional love forgave our failings before we were ever born (Psalm 139:16). He loves us even when we get so busy that we forget all about Him (1 John 4:9-10).

We cannot earn more of God’s love, because we already have it all. He proved this to us by loving Israel through generations of unfaithfulness. He always gives us complete love, forgiveness and acceptance (John 3:16; 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:6). His presence is continually with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

God promises us His divine nature and replaces our carnality with the fruit of His Spirit (2 Peter 1:4; Galatians 5:22-23). He draws us ever closer to His heart by showering us with His loving kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39). We can totally rely on His unfailing love, which is higher than the heavens and from everlasting to everlasting (Psalms 33:18; 103:11,17; 147:11).

Prayer:

Father God, You do not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10). We will sing praises to You because of Your love and strength. You are our fortress in times of conflict, refuge in times of trouble and comfort in times of sorrow (Psalm 59:16-17). We remain in Your love as we keep Your commandments, just like Jesus did. Our joy is fulfilled in You, and Your joy is complete in us (John 15:9-11).

Thought for the Day:

There is no one that loves us better, or cares for our welfare more than Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer.

– Leviticus 25:25; Ruth 1-4

Each New Day

 

We all pay a litany of consequences for our choices. Even Saints who are forgiven may still suffer the consequences of our behavior, just as the thief who had to die on the cross. However, for those who surrender to God, we are forgiven from the penalty of our sins. Jesus paid the debt for us and takes us with Him to heaven for eternity. This gives us a reason to rejoice as we read His Word, as well as to stay far away from everything, which tarnishes or stands against His name.

Those who trust in God can rejoice with each new day and gladly face the hardships that come (Psalm 118:14,24). When we hide in the refuge of our Savior, no one can do anything to us that is outside of His will. There is no reason for us to fear the trials in this world or for us to rely on anyone other than our Father God (Psalm 118:6, 8-9). God is our strength and shield. He puts His song in our heart at the moment of our salvation. God’s continual loving kindness and truth endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

Our help comes directly from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He will not allow us to stumble or to be cast down. He even watches over us in our sleep. He is our protector and provider. He gives us shade in the intense heat of daily life and safety from the terrors of the night (Psalm 91; 121:1-6). When we find our rest in Him, we quiet our soul and do not worry. We are as safe as a child in its mother’s loving arms (Psalm 131:1-2).

As we seek Him with our whole heart, walk blamelessly before him, and keep His precepts, He blesses us in every area of our life. He provides us with His light in our darkest experiences. He keeps us from evil and preserves our soul for eternity. He watches over us each moment of the day both now and forevermore (Psalm 121: 7-8). This is why we love Him with all of our heart, and live in faithful obedience to Him to the end of our days (Psalm 119: 1-2,105,112).

Prayer:

Father God, You know everything we think, say and do. There is no place for us to hide from Your care and concern over our life (Psalm 139:8). You give great peace to everyone who loves Your ways. As we keep our focus on You, nothing will cause us to falter from our life in You (Isaiah 26:3). We love You with our whole heart and we rejoice in Your ways (Psalm 119:162-168). In the quiet hours of the night, we join the trees clapping their hands in praise to You, as they perform in perfect harmony with the wind. We give our life and love to you (Isaiah 55:12), and we live each day for the glory of Your name.

Thought for the Day:

If we look at all the worries in our life, we get overwhelmed with stress. If we walk in the Spirit each moment of the day and leave the rest to God, we will live victoriously.

 

God is Enough

 

 

The love of God is enough. Period. We do not need any person or thing to complete our life. We are complete in Christ, regardless of who or what we have or do not have in our life (Colossians 2:10). Not having what we perceive as our perfect life is what causes us to strive to obtain what we think we need. The only striving that God suggests that we participate in as His children, is to strive to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:10). I am not belittling your circumstances, just encouraging you to go deeper in God during this time.

If you are not Born Again by God’s Spirit, you will always have a God-shaped hole in your life, which is causing an insatiable appetite to want more. Your spirit is dead in sin, and you are not yet complete. Total surrender to Jesus Christ is the only antidote. However, if you are an authentic, Born Again Believer and you are striving for more, then you just need an attitude adjustment. If you do not have what you want, this means that God does not think that you need it at this time.

I hate to think of my brothers and sisters as lonely and suffering. I know how you feel though, because I have been there. When my former husband decided that there was no option for us but divorce, God quickly taught me a secret that I want to share with you. We find fulfillment by focusing on Christ in us, not on His benefits. We love Him, not for what He does for us, but because He loves us (1 John 4:19). God wrote a new chapter for my life in His way and in His timing; and He will do the same for you.

Develop a deeper relationship with Christ in you. When we let go of our desires, and focus instead on Christ in us, our life floods with peace and joy. When you need something, God will provide it for you in His timing and way, even if it is at the last minute. When we sit alone, we are never lonely, as long as the Spirit of God resides within our spirit (Psalm 46:10). Instead, we have alone (all-one) times with Christ in us, as He fills us with all of His fullness (Ephesians 3:19).

This does not mean that we quote scriptures at Him to claim His promises, so that somehow He will feel obligated to give us what we want. That is a carnal attempt to twist God's arm to work in our behalf. God does not respond to manipulation. In fact, He is already working on our behalf, we just do not appreciate what He has already done and is doing in us and for us right now. Praise Him for who He is and not only for what He does. Take time to count your blessings, and to enter into the joy of our Lord (Matthew 25:23).

Prayer:

Father God, praising, believing and trusting in You in the good times and in the bad times gives us a habit of rejoicing in Your presence within us, rather than keeping our focus on what we think we need. We are thankful for Your everlasting love and that You draw us to Yourself with your loving kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). This means that we do not beg You or try to manipulate You to provide what we want. We will only find fulfillment in the center of Your will and this may or may not include what we want. However, living in the center of Your will is actually the happiest place on earth.

Thought for the Day:

We will not find fulfillment even if God gives us what we want; because we will just find something else to want.