Connecting to God is an ongoing journey, and it requires dedication, prayer, and a sincere desire to align our lives with God’s will.
Day One
Sunday, January 7
Connecting with God
As we begin our week of Reset, we want to start by Connecting to God. But why God? Well, God gives us our standard of living. His Word conforms our hearts, transforms our minds, and informs our decisions. 1 Peter 1:15 says, “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct.” (Conduct in this verse commands us to be set apart from the world by our godly character and moral courage.). And we have everything in His Word we need to live a life that pleases God (see 2 Peter 1:3-4).
During our Experiencing God study this past Fall, we talked a lot about a God-centered life. Blackaby defined a God-centered life as one that places confidence in God and chooses holy and godly living.
Connecting with God is Easy
The good news is that connecting to God is actually easy. We can connect to God at any time, place, or reason. In Jonah 2, we see that Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”
God is always there for us. He is not far away, nor is He unknowable, as some would say. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” And because of that truth, we are commended in the next verse to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God sees. God knows. God cares, so we can and should connect with Him.
Some ways we can connect with God:
- Seek God First: Prioritize your relationship with God above all else. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
- Study the Bible: Regularly read, study, and meditate on the Bible to understand God’s word and His plans. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
- Prayer: Maintain a consistent prayer life, seeking God’s guidance, strength, and wisdom. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
- Obey His Commands: We must respond by putting the commands of God into practice in all areas of our lives. Luke 6:47-48 (NIV) – As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
- Avoid Sin: Strive to live a life free from sin and seek forgiveness when you fall short. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
- Trust in God’s Plan: Trust that God has a plan for your life, even when circumstances are challenging. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Daily Challenge
This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; 10 that you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important; that you will be pure and blameless for the coming of Christ; 11 that your life will be full of the many good works that are produced by Jesus Christ to bring glory and praise to God.
– Philippians 1:9-11
Carefully re-read Philippians 1:9-11 and identify the 5 different aspects of his prayer for the church. Then begin to pray this prayer for yourself and for your Connect family.
