Connecting With God

Connecting with God requires sacrifices on our part. It also requires spiritual discipline. We are to practice spiritual disciplines such as the following: Prayer, Bible study, meditation and extended times of solitude, silence and service. Do we really spend time with God as needed? Do you spend time in God's Word everyday? Do you spend time in prayer each day with God? We must practice spiritual discipline if we want to grow in the Lord and develop a more personal relationship with Christ. It requires a daily sacrifice. We must discipline and train ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
"Respect those who work hard among you who are over you in the Lord. Hold them in the highest regard in love. Live in peace with each other. Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and everyone else. Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. Do not put out the Spirit's fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything that is good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I remember one of our youth services as we spoke on sacrifice and spiritual disciplines. We discussed the 3 purposes in life right now and I would like to take this moment and share them with you. This is very vital in our walk with God.

3 Purposes in Life Right Now:
1) Spiritual Formation - connecting with God in authentic ways. We must be willing to be vessels and be obedient to His calling upon our lives. If we are to receive the blessings we must be obedient to the call that God has placed in our lives. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zone.
2) Compassion and Social Justice - caring for the throw aways of our culture as Jesus did. I believe we need to develop the same love for one another that Christ expressed toward others. We must be willing to help those in need, whether it be the homeless or those of lower statute. We are to be Christ like. We are to care for others like Jesus did. It is time we start showing others, including our enemies that Jesus loves them. It takes getting to know them as Jesus did in His days. He was a servant to others.
3) Helping people, especially in the American church, focus on substance over glitz -by discovering and living out God's purposes instead of living a self-absorbed existence. We need to be humble servants of Jesus Christ willing to help others. We need to develop a spirit of humility and not be so full of ourselves.

We must be willing to make the daily sacrifice if want to have a personal relationship with Christ. It requires taking the time to thank God throughout the day for his many blessings, taking the time to say a small prayer throughout the day, and taking the time to spend time in His Word, not only reading His Word but studying it and applying it to your life. We each must do our part to spread the Word of Jesus Christ. We can each make a difference but it takes a sacrifice on our part. May God Bless you and keep you on the right path.