Connecting with God Week2

Steps towards a Connection with God:

Spiritual Posture of Humility
James 4:6-7
“God opposes the proud_
but favors the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God.

Element of Curiosity
Matthew 7:7
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Tenacity – Purposeful seeking

Confidence
Hebrews 4:16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

This brings to mind the image of a small child who is so excited to jump on Daddy’s lap and give him a giant bear hug. There is no pretentiousness, just humility, no prideful attitude of “look how great I am so you must accept me.” There is curiosity, what does Daddy have for me today? Anything he tells me will help me, any gift he brings me is the right one. Tenacity because nothing is gonna get in their way, no other kid or adult or pet will take that lap time away. And confidence, no wondering whether or not Daddy will push them off his lap, just pure trust that Daddy wants them there as much as they want to be there.

Unfortunately not all children have this experience and it takes time and prayer and diligence to separate God from those earthly examples. It helps to think that if our father was like God that this is how it would be.

Of the 4 steps listed…half of them come easier to me and half of them are more difficult at times. I like to learn and I like to study so “Element of Curiousity” and “Tenacity” are easier for me. However, my attitude can sometimes get in the way of connecting with God. Sometimes it is pride, sometimes it is anger, sometimes it just Arlet being Arlet (How frightening is that?). Combined with that is that there are times when I don’t have the confidence to connect with God because of guilt/shame or feeling unworthy to be in his presence.

However, one thing that I started doing more and more often the last few years has been to say a brief pray BEFORE I sit down to read my Bible or journal or do a study or sit in silence. The pray can be as simple as “God, I need to hear you.” or “God, take this chip off my shoulder.” or “God, I’m ticked and let me tell you why.”

In order to connect with humans we need to dialogue. The same is true with God. If I don’t talk with him then I am not participating.

Connecting with God involves participation.

If you have ever wondered “Why am I here? What’s my purpose and what’s this God thing all about?” then connect with God and you’ll find out.

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Rev 3:20

17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.” Proverbs 8:17

11 “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.” Corinthins 1:9

A few things come to mind for me…

1. I really want to see his glory cloud visibly appear at our gatherings. It has happened before with people and I want to see it with my own eyes.

2. I want to see more results from praying for the sick.

3. I want to raise the dead.

4. I want to be so passionate about Jesus that I don’t fear people or my own weakness.

5. It would be cool to walk on water.

6. I want to see his kingdom come and his will done on earth as it is in heaven and to be a part of that process.

7. I want to prophesy more accurately and effectively.

I thought “why try?” was one of the best questions I heard on Sunday. How people answer that for themselves depends on:

• If there is a god at all. (Let’s assume Yes for now.)
• If that’s true, is it a god one can “connect with”? (Let’s assume Yes for now.)
• If that’s true, it it a god I want to connect with?

What I mean by that last question is that there are many different ideas of god out there. There’s the deist god, the watchmaker, who set everything in motion but now simply observes how it all plays out — I don’t see any benefit in connecting with that. There’s the angry god who is ready, even eager, to judge — not just judge me, but judge good people I care about. I’ll pass on that god. As Brian McLaren’s song Atheist illustrates, there are many ideas of god that I want nothing to do with.

Then there’s the crazy god: the creator who entered their own creation? The ruler who chose to become a servant? A god who is willing to die — for me? The all-powerful who embraces the outcast and powerless? A king who adopts his enemies as his children, making them heirs of his kingdom? A healer who invites me to join in the great mission of redeeming all of creation?

Sign me up. I want to connect with the crazy one.