How Can I Connect With God? Therefore Do Not Worry. Godliness With Contentment. Update.

How Can I Connect With God?

“Successful, satisfying relationships involve two-way communication. Connecting with God is the same way. If you are willing to do your part, God will do His.

Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

Connecting with God means communication that goes both ways, as in a conversation with another person.

Your Creator wants to connect with you. He wants to hear your honest questions. He wants to offer you understanding. He wants to hear your worries and provide comfort and hope.

But God can seem distant, remote and unconcerned with our daily troubles. What can we do to close the gap and connect to God?

Talk to God

Communication is essential. So, a great first step toward connecting with God is prayer. God appreciates the humility it takes to bend our knee and bow our head before Him. Humble prayer is an acknowledgment that answers are not deep within ourselves, answers only come from the Creator of life.

If you are not familiar with prayer, here are a few points to consider:

Approach God with respect, show honor for who and what He is. You can ask God even the hardest questions if you come before Him with the winning combination of humility and respect (Isaiah 66:2).

Expect answers (Hebrews 11:6). Follow up on matters you bring before God by reading your Bible.

Listen to God

A second important step toward connecting with God is to do what He says (James 1:25).

Connecting with God means communication that goes both ways, as in a conversation with another person. Prayer is you talking to God, reading your Bible is God talking back to you. However, If you only listen to what God says to you, but never act upon it, the conversation will die out. Communication and connection require active feedback!

Our Creator likes to begin by giving us simple things at first. He wants to see how we respond before moving on to more complex things. For example:

Responding positively toward God might begin with responding positively toward His commandments. The Ten Commandments are simple but life-changing. What makes the commandments complicated are the layers upon layers of human reasoning and manmade traditions we have built around them.

You might also find that reading God’s Word might show you attitudes and harmful ways of thinking that you need to change.

Try to be attuned to what the Bible is saying to you and respond!

Acknowledge your blessings

Your Creator also communicates with you through blessings and answered prayer. Some prayers seek big picture understanding, but many prayers seek God’s intervention and help with specific problems you are facing.

Try to be mindful of events in your life that are actually blessings and answers to your prayers. Notice the opportunities that come your way, troubles that unexpectedly resolve themselves or turn in your favor. These can be dismissed as coincidence or understood as answers to prayer (if you have indeed prayed).

If you have been blessed and helped in some way big or small, then go back to God and give Him thanks! Remember, in your ongoing conversation with God, prayers are you talking. So, just like you would offer thanks to other people in your life for the little things they do for you, offer your thanks to God. Thankfulness is a great way to build any relationship, including your relationship with God.

Successful, satisfying relationships involve two-way communication. Connecting with God is the same way. If you are willing to do your part, God will do His.”

Learn more about listening to God through reading your Bible with this free study aid: How to Understand the Bible.”                     From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/how-can-i-connect-with-god?

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“Therefore Do Not Worry”

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“During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His audience, “Do not worry.” That’s easier said than done. This Bible Study Starter will help you explore ways to worry less and trust God more.

Matthew 6:25-34

(New King James Version)

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Questions:

1. Jesus said that worrying can’t add a cubit (a unit of measure) to our height. If worrying doesn’t accomplish anything, why do you think it’s such an easy habit to fall into?
2. What are three of your biggest worries right now?
3. What practical, reasonable steps can you take to reduce the likelihood of those worries becoming a reality?
4. Will any of those steps guarantee you protection from your worries?
5. Jesus said that the Father provides food for the birds of the air and clothes the grass of the field—and then explained that God cares much more about you. How can remembering that truth make it easier not to worry about uncertainties in your own life?
6. There’s a difference between “not worrying” and “not making an effort.” What steps can you take to maintain the balance between not panicking about problems and not doing your part?
7. To fully let go of our worries, we must believe three things about God: i.
   • That He is able to help us.
   • That He is willing to help us.
   • That if He chooses not to help us, it’s not because He is abandoning us, but because He can see the bigger picture and has something better in store for us.
     Which of those truths is hardest for you to believe? Why?
8. God promises that if we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide the rest of our needs. What can you do to make the Kingdom of God a higher priority in your day-to-day life? What habits can you introduce into your daily routine? How do you think these habits will impact your worries?” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/learning-center/bible-study-starters/therefore-do-not-worry/?

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Godliness With Contentment

1 Timothy 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

In 1 Timothy 6 Paul addresses our attitude and approach to money, possessions and wealth. In verse 5 he mentions some who saw religion as a way to gain wealth—a dangerous, greedy, selfish attitude that Paul warned Timothy to avoid.

Instead, Paul pointed to the truly important “gain”—becoming more like God and living contentedly with what we have. If we learn to be content with the necessities of life—food and clothing (verse 8)—we can avoid the sorrows and pain that can be caused by a burning desire to become rich.

For more about coveting wealth and the antidote of contentment, see our article on the “10th Commandment: You Shall Not Covet.””

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/godliness-with-contentment/?

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Update

Around here, we still have to wear muzzles when we go into stores, offices, or anywhere there are people, but at least the coronavirus doesn’t seem to be spreading like it is in other places. 

My great grandson Stephen, the one who just graduated, was visiting his grandma, my daughter Wendy in College Station, so I donned my big sunglasses, pulled myself together, and got on the freeway on Tuesday.  I really need to find out why the glare of the open road bothers my eyes so.  The sun is so bright on these 95-100 degree days.  I was early, so I stopped at Kroger’s in College Station and bought items that cannot be bought in Navasota.  I had a cold bag with me.

The four of us, Wendy, her father-in-law, Tony, who lives with them,  Stephen and I had a nice visit and we played a dominos game called chicken foot.  Old Tony won, they think he has Alzheimer's, but he is still sharp.

After lunch, Wendy took Stephen, me and her two dogs to a park.  It was very sunny and I wasn’t wearing walking shoes, so that wasn’t so enjoyable for me, especially when I tripped over a root.  My hair blew into a mess and I looked a fright, see picture on FB. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3693931657288992&set=pcb.3693931897288968&type=3&theater

But it was worth it just to see Stephen who I hadn’t seen for years.  He wants to be a Nuclear Engineer. To each his own.

Normal goings on during the week, trips to the local pantry, thrift shop and then to Tractor Supply, yes, we do have one of those nearby, to get some Wellness cat food.  It is cheaper there than at the pet shops. My cat, Casper, is supposed to be coming home soon.

On Friday, Cherry, my church neighbor and I studied the church’s Bible study for this week, then we went to Dollar General.   But because of new regulations about Sabbath gatherings, neither of us went to church today.

Words Have Meaning. Saunas and the Psalms. Update.

Words Have Meaning

Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

“Keeping your word is important to God. The ability to speak, to make agreements, and to make things happen with words is one of the ways in which we were created in God’s image. He created through speech, and He relates to us by speech. When God spoke, the universe was. His interaction with us has primarily been through the spoken word and its fulfillment: the prophets, preachers, and most importantly, through the Word made flesh in the form of Jesus.

When we speak, like God, we make things happen. We create. We can change the universe by opening our mouths. “If you will say unto this mountain, ‘Be moved and cast into the sea,’ it shall be done.” Notice that Jesus did not say if we ask God to move the mountain. He said we can speak directly to the mountain, and it will obey. Our words have tangible effects on the world around us. Even if you speak without intent, there may be power in the mere sounds. The more significant your words, the more significant the consequences are sure to be.

If you say, “This country is going down the tubes,” that might only be your observation of what you see around you, but it isn’t necessarily true. By putting it into words in that manner, you reinforce a negative outlook in yourself and the people around you, causing you to behave as if the country is already lost. You are making a statement of faith that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamore tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Don’t say that America is doomed and leave it at that, especially not if you believe it to be true. Rather say, “America is doomed if we don’t repent and return to God and His Law.” You will accomplish three things by modifying your speech in this manner:

1. You will reinforce in yourself and those around you that there is a way out for America. If Nineveh could be saved, then so can America.
2. You will reinforce belief in the truth that America’s redemption will come only from God, and that He respects and rewards nations who obey Him.
3. Your words, spoken in faith, will have power to change reality.

Remember that your positive faith is in competition with the negative faith of millions of others, so it is important for all those who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to speak in unity and in favor of repentance and obedience. We must not allow the voices of unbelievers to dictate our future.

In the end, it is possible that America’s demise is necessary in God’s overall plan. In that case, there is nothing we can do or say to prevent it. Like the national repentance of Israel under Josiah’s leadership, the most we could accomplish is a reprieve. That isn’t reason to give up hope, because we don’t know what the future holds. That generation or two of delay might mean the ultimate salvation of millions and the greater glory of God’s Kingdom.

Be careful what you say. Don’t speak hopeless negativity against yourself and your people. Let your words be full of encouragement and hope and repentance.

Words have meaning, frequently more meaning than we will ever know.”  From: http://www.americantorah.com/2014/07/19/words-have-meaning/

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Saunas and the Psalms

What do saunas have to do with a passage in the Psalms?

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/pqP1v0CS5d8

[Steve Myers] “Have you ever been in a sauna? I had an experience one time. I had never been in a sauna before, went in there, and it is overwhelming. I found out maybe I’m a little claustrophobic. Maybe that temperature and all the humidity in there was not for me. I was only in there a minute or so, and it’s, like, let me out. Open that door. And suddenly, oh, you can breathe again. And it was, like, this is fantastic. It was more fun getting out of the sauna than ever, for me, getting into it. Because I needed the breathing room. I just couldn’t take that pressure and that humidity.

And, you know, when you think about that, life is kinda like that at times. We may feel like we are in a compressed kind of a situation where humidity and stress of this world really weighs on us. And there’s an interesting passage that you could consider if you ever feel like this. It’s over in Psalm 4. Right at the very beginning. It kinda gives us this picture of this sauna of life, and how we can really get some breathing room. And it begins like this. It says, “Hear me when I call, oh God of my righteousness.” That’s where all righteousness is, with God. Then it goes on and says, “You have relieved me in my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” And I kind of envision opening that sauna door and getting out of all of the stress and the challenges, of the weight that might weigh on us, and getting out into the open where we can breathe again.

And when we turn to God, that’s really what He’s telling us. That He relieves distress. He relieves the challenges and stress that can weigh on us. In fact, at the very end of this Psalm, it says, “I will both lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety.” You want peace in your life? You want to have that relief that only God can give? Call out to Him. He will hear. That’s the great part. Hear me when I call, oh God. And He does hear. And He is a God that gives us breathing room.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/saunas-and-the-psalms

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Update.

Still no church, so I watched sermons on the computer on the Sabbath. 

On the Monday I drove to Brenham (TX) and see if the drive there was more relaxing than the one to College Station.  It was a long hilly country road and as soon as you got to the brow of a hill, there lay a ribbon of more miles of country road ahead.  I thought I was never going to get there  Then I found out that the HEB and Walmart are way off on the opposite side of Brenham, so, of course, I got lost.  The lady at the Visitor’s Center marked my route on a map and I finally got outta there and home. 

I wish we had better stores here in Navasota.  It is mostly Victorian houses and antique stores so the town wants to stay quaint, and not commercial.  Even the Walmart is just a tiny little store, with no tires or groceries, not that I bought Walmart groceries anyway. There isn’t even a health food store.  For so many things you have to drive at least 20 miles to get to a big grocery store or big box store.

The organic vegetables that I had bought needed to be cooked, so I sautéed some on the stove, roasted some, made some in crockpots, and then froze most of them in Mason jars.  So now I am stocked up on cooked food, but then I usually am.

As I had decided to keep the window unit, I had to make space for it in my storage unit, so I took an old beat-up trunk that I was going to restore, to the mission here, and had a look-see in their thrift shop. I try to see what they have once a week anyway.  I am still looking for an armoire.

My oldest son, Peter, turned 63 on Friday.  Many Happy Returns, I remember that day 63 years ago very well.  Also on Friday, Cherry and I studied the church’s Bible Study for this week, even though there wasn’t going to be a service there the next day.  Then we went on a quick trip to this little Walmart. She wanted to get a book, and I needed to return some shorts that I had bought in Brenham.  Even though they were the same size, they were not made by the same manufacturer and didn’t measure the same as the ones that I had bought before.

Even though there wasn’t a service at the church, I went over there this morning anyway.  An elder and his wife are there every Sabbath morning to check the mail and receive any visitors, even if there is no church service.  The lady who usually sets up the Zoom Bible study wasn’t there, and we couldn’t get the sound to work on Zoom on their phone, so we had our own Bible study, which was very interesting.  Later a few more showed up to go to a park for a community program especially for the local kids.  It was good to be around these good folks.

The sermon was live on Facebook as usual, but we will have to watch it when we get home because we all had trouble hearing it on the elder’s phone today.