DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD
GrannyFaith4Jesus
You don't have to be a spiritual giant like a theologian, Bible
scholar, or prayer warrior to get close to God. He's willing to meet
you wherever are - even smack in the middle of a life filled with flaws
and mistakes. Your life may seem ordinary to you, but God's love for
you is extraordinary. He loves you deeply, no matter what weaknesses
you may have.
Here are some ways you can grow closer to God even if you're fumbling
through life:
Focus on what matters most. Don't let your to-do list's nagging voice
drown out God's voice calling you to spend time with Him on a regular
basis. Make time for relationships - with God, family, and friends -
and let things that don't matter as much just slide.
Unplug your life for a while. Take time away from technology that
demands you be available to others all the time. Take a break from your
cell phone, fax machine, pager, and e-mail and enjoy the peace and
quiet. Turn off the television, radio, and computer so you can spend
time relaxing and thinking. Celebrate how taking time to reflect helps
you hear God's voice better.
Clear out clutter. Get rid of stuff you don't really want or need by
giving it away, selling it, or throwing it out. Create extra space in
your home and workplace. Lose the attitudes that clutter your mind -
all the thoughts that don't line up with God's truth. Remember that
with God, all things are possible. Ask Him to give you new, healthy
attitudes, like the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control). Stop
complaining and ask God to give you the perspective you need to be
positive. Clear some space in your schedule so you'll have some free
time.
Say "no" sometimes so you can say "yes" at the right times. Have the
courage to say "no" to requests for your time and energy that don't fit
into your unique mission in life. Ask God to clarify what that mission
is for you, so you can evaluate each request against it. Ask yourself,
"Is this something only I can do?" If not, and it doesn't line up with
your life's mission, let someone else do it. Be willing to say "yes" to
the right assignments, but before you do agree to them, take time to
pray and check your calendar first.
Sense God's presence all around you. Realize that God is with you
everywhere, all the time. Pay attention to His presence wherever you
happen to be.
Get adequate sleep. Don't deprive your body of the full amount of sleep
it needs each night - usually 7 1/2 to 9 hours for adults. Know that
you will function at your best only if you've had enough sleep. Make
sleep a high priority.
Pursue inner beauty rather than outer beauty. Don't waste too much time
and energy focusing on your physical beauty, which will never last.
Instead of visiting a body spa, take a spiritual retreat and let God
give you His beauty treatments, such as the dermabrasion of confession
and the soaking bath of time in His Word. Know that every encounter
with God will change you from the inside out, leaving you truly
radiant.
Don't bother to make unrealistic resolutions. Decide to accept God's
grace. Give yourself permission to do less and take longer doing it.
Eat dessert first. Thank God for the life He has given you, and decide
to enjoy it.
Let your God-given conscience wake you up. As you make everyday
choices, listen the Spirit's guidance and choose to follow it rather
than going your own way. Commit to a life of honesty and integrity.
Embrace God's unconditional love. Ask God to tell you how much He loves
you. Then listen as He does, and accept and embrace His unconditional
love. View yourself as He does - His beloved child.
Make peace with your past. Understand that your past shouldn't define
your present and future. Pursue God's healing for traumatic issues in
your past. Know that God cares about you and will give you the freedom
you need to live in the present and believe in a brighter future if you
take your concerns to Him in prayer.
Remember God's kindness to you, and be kind to others. Recall some of
the many ways God has blessed you. As part of your thankfulness to Him,
do something kind for other people as often as you can.
Let God teach you to pray. Understand that prayer isn't about who you
are; it's about who God is. Just show up for prayer and know that God
will meet you there and deepen your prayer life over time.
Be still. Make time in your life for solitude and silence so you can
follow God's command to be still and know that He is God. As you rest,
listen for His voice.
Realize that every prayer counts. Know that if you're too busy or
stressed to pray anything more than, "Help!," God will still listen and
answer. Understand that even simple, self-focused prayers reach God's
ears. Realize that even prayers uttered on the go still rise to heaven.
Don't wait until you have time to pray on your knees in a cathedral;
pray as often as you can as you go about your everyday life.
Use music to draw closer to God. Recognize music's awesome power to
help you focus on God. Listen to some of your favorite music and let it
draw you into worship.
Don't listen to naysayers. Realize that people like teachers, bosses,
or family members who predict you'll fail at something may not be
correct. Understand that God can take every circumstance in your life
and bring something good out of it. Rely only on God's plans for you.
Let God use your disappointments and challenges to shape you. Whenever
trials enter your life, press in closer to God's heart and ask Him to
help you learn something positive from them.
Trust in God's provision. Understand that God is able, willing, and
ready to provide whatever you need, whenever you need it. Pray about
whatever specific needs you have - a job, a friend, etc. - and trust
Him to answer in wisdom and on time.
Study the Bible. Read and study your Bible often. Write in its margins,
underline passages, comment, wonder, question, and exclaim. Know that
God will make His Word come alive for you.
Release your worries to God. Don't waste time and energy worrying.
Instead, spend time and energy praying about your concerns. Then
release them - time and time again, if you need to - and trust that God
will answer with much greater power than you have yourself.
Don't let petty concerns weigh you down. Rather than trying to convince
God to work on your agenda, take the risk of opening up your whole life
to Him and trusting Him to do what He will with it. Know that such a
leap of faith will lead to a much greater life for you.
Recognize the location of your true home. Remember that our fallen
world is just a temporary home; your eternal home will be in heaven if
you have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Know where - and to
whom - you belong.
Serve God. Whatever you do, do it for God. Give your best effort to it.
Be open to God's leading and willing to serve Him however He calls you.
Keep learning. Decide to be a lifelong learner. Constantly pursue
greater spiritual, physical, mental and emotional strength through
disciplines like prayer, exercise, and meaningful work.