Fellowship with the Father Follow up

We begin every single year here at Cross Connection Church by talking a little bit about our vision: life in connection with God, one another, and the world through Jesus. Today, we are discussing how to connect with God, which is a follow-up to our previous conversations. Some questions that arise from this topic are, first, how do we really experience that connection in a practical way? What does it look like to connect with God on a regular basis?

I mentioned six different things we can do to strengthen and maintain our connection with God once we enter into that relationship. Of course, you first have to develop the relationship with God, and that comes through accepting Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior. The Gospel of John, chapter 1, states that as many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called the children of God, who are born of the Spirit. They are not born of flesh and blood, but are born of the Spirit.

A couple of chapters later, in John, chapter 3, Jesus elaborates on this concept. I encourage you to read that this week, where He discusses being born again with a very religious man, Nicodemus. There was probably no more religious man in all of Israel during the time of Jesus than Nicodemus. Despite doing all the temple rituals, observing all the feasts, and following the various laws, he was still disconnected from God. Jesus told him, "Nicodemus, unless you're born again, you will not receive the kingdom of God. You're not going to see it, so you're still far from God."

As many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called the children of God. We first develop that relationship by receiving Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, confessing our sins, and allowing Him to forgive us through His death on the cross.

To strengthen and maintain that relationship with God, I mentioned six things. There are probably others we could consider, but six clear things I think are particularly helpful. First is worship. Unfortunately, in our day, we often think that worship is just singing songs to God. While singing songs of praise is one avenue of worship, it is certainly not the only way. For some people who may not sing or think they have a good voice, that might be challenging.

One way to worship God is to spend some time in the morning reflecting on who God is and what He has done.

The Bible is really helpful for understanding who God is. If you read through some of the Psalms, you start to get a picture of God's love, care, forgiveness, and grace. When you begin to think about who God is, you can feel your heart start to worship Him. It's similar to when you take time to think about a person in your life that you love, maybe your kids or your spouse. As you reflect on all the aspects of who that person is, you might even feel a smile come to your face. You remember who they are, and you feel a warmth in your heart. That's a form of adoration for that person. The same applies to God. You can spend time in the morning contemplating who God is and what He has done.

I have found that if you seek a quiet and beautiful place, like a spot in the hills where you can see the sunrise, and you start to think about God, your heart will begin to worship and adore Him. One of the practical ways we connect with God is through worship. An important aspect of worship is prayer—spending time talking to God. Sometimes our prayers can become overly formal, and we think we have to follow a specific pattern. I just talk to God as if I am speaking right now. I talk to God while I'm driving in my car, walking around my house, or sitting at my desk. Wherever I may be, I share my concerns, needs, cares, and fears with Him.

One of the beautiful things about prayer is found in Philippians chapter 4, which says to be anxious for nothing, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. God's peace will guard your heart. This is a wonderful plan from the Scriptures. God has given us a way to experience life without anxiety or fear, despite the burdens that weigh upon us. We come to God with our prayers and petitions, letting Him know what we are fearful about and what we need. As we bring these things to Him in prayer, we connect with God, and He draws near to us as we draw near to Him, as the Scriptures say.

The third way we connect with God is through the Scriptures. I mentioned in the message today thelisteningplan.com. You can check it out or simply get a Bible reading plan. There are hundreds of them available. You can search Google for a Bible reading plan and find one that suits you. Alternatively, you can use the YouVersion Bible app to find a plan. Even if you start with just one verse a day, that’s a great beginning. Start with five minutes and gradually add a little more each day. If you start your day in worship, prayer, and in God's Word, I guarantee you this will transform your life.

This week, you will experience God's presence to a greater extent, and you will know what it is to be connected to God.