4 Ways to Connect With God
Are you stuck in a spiritual rut, especially during such a time as this? Feeling like you can’t make your way out? Chances are, you’ve tried the same formula of Bible reading and praying and still no connection.
Surely, one plus one equals two, right? But connecting with God is not like a straightforward math equation. It’s like algebra or trigonometry. Not in its complexity but rather in its creativity. Figuring out how you personally connect with God on a daily basis is essential to the life of every believer. God has blessed us with many ways to worship and experience connection with Him. Here are a few, along with Bible scriptures to further inspire you.
1. Spending Daily Quiet Time. Making it a priority to take time alone every day to pray, meditate, read, listen, and/or journal can make a world of difference in your day and in your life. Committing to any of these disciplines It will help your outlook on life, give you strength, encourage you, center you and ground you before you face the day.
READ: Isaiah 30:15, Mark 6:31, Matthew 6:33, Mark 1:35
2. Attending Virtual Worship Services. Worshiping with others (albeit virtually during the COVID-19 crisis to practice social distancing) is a way to grow spiritually. We build our faith by hearing God’s Word and learning His promises for our lives. Plus, attending worship services (physically, when possible, and virtually) has been shown to have positive benefits, even beyond the spiritual. Frequent church-goers, according to the Pew Research Center, live longer, enjoy better overall health than the general population, and are happier.
READ: Hebrews 10:23-25, Psalm 40:9-10, Romans 10:13-17, Romans 12:1-2
“People who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups ...”
3. Serving Others. This may seem odd since moms, many of you, serve your families on a daily basis in many different ways. As you go about your day, duties can be so consuming that they lead to feelings of self-pity. Rather than focusing inwardly on yourself and all that you do for your family, have an outward focus. Ironically, even during this crisis, there are ways that you can serve a friend, neighbor or other person in need (even at a safe distance). For instance, you can drop off groceries on the porch of an elderly neighbor. It’s just enough to get you back into the ring and experience love. It’s an amazing concept that when we help and give to others, it always comes back to us in a greater way, and we, too, get refreshed as a results.
READ: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Acts 20:35, Philippians 2:4, Matthew 25:35-40
4. Practicing Gratitude. The ultimate remedy to any complaint, disappointment, sadness, challenge or obstacle that life throws your way is a grateful heart. We are so quick to forget all we have to be grateful for because we tend to focus on what we lack and how much more we need. That often leaves us feeling empty. Keeping a gratitude journal is one good way to keep up with the many ways God has blessed you. Take time to write both the big and small blessings in your life and you will be amazed at how rich you already are. When you go back later and look at what you have written, it will soften your heart and help you keep a proper perspective.
READ: James 1:2-4, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalm 102:18