How To Connect With God

Born To Know God Deeply

God created you know Him deeply, and personally connect with Him on a daily basis. More than a habit or a "spiritual practice", time spent with Christ is about building a relationship. People will read all the self-help books in search to get out of a spiritual rut, but there is still an empty void in their life because there is still no connection with their creator.

While connecting with God is not the same formula for everyone, here are some ways we have found that work for us! Some of them might surprise you.

1). Pray: How Talking to God Can Strengthen Your Connection

Prayer time with God is such a special aspect of the Christian life. Prayer is where we get to experience God's faithfulness in our daily lives, and it's where we can build a closer relationship with Him.

When your prayer life is strong, you are strong! The Bible has a lot to say about the power of prayer, so evidently it is very important. You can write out prayers or say them aloud. God hears you!

What the Bible Says About Prayer

1. "Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." - Matthew 6:9-13
2. "Pray without ceasing.." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
3. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

5. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
6. "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." - John 14:13-14
7. "..Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.." - Jeremiah 29:12-14

11 Easy Ways To Incorporate Prayer Throughout Your Day

Here are some easy ways to incorporate prayer throughout your day. God loves when we engage with Him throughout the day.

1. Make the habit of having a specific time and place for prayer each day to make it a consistent part of your routine. When we pray, we connect with God!
2. Go on a prayer walk and spend time with your Heavenly Father. Breathe deeply and just enjoy God and His presence.
3. Try spending time in prayer thanking God for all the things He has done for you! For example, thank Him for the coffee in your hand or recount all the ways God has provided for you this week.
4. Invite the presence of God to come, wherever you are!
5. Ask the Holy Spirit if there is anyone you could be praying for. Make their day and share how God put them on your heart.
6. Talk to God about the things on your mind.
7. Spend some time listening if there is anything He wants to share with you. God wants to share His heart with us too, but sometimes we forget to listen!
8. Turn your worries into prayers. What things in your life, your friends lives or in the world are heavy on your heart? Write them out or pray aloud. ("Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." -Philippians 4:6)
9. Use prayer as an opportunity to surrender your will to God's will, asking for guidance and direction.
10. Keep a prayer journal to record your prayers, insights, and answers to prayer.
11. Find a person you can pray with! A prayer partner is someone who shares beliefs who you can pray with regularly. This creates a sense of accountability and support.

2). Read the Bible: Unlock New Connection With God

God consistently reveals Himself through His Word. Bible reading is where we can learn more of God's characteristics. Our souls are hungry for truth, and studying God's Word provides just that! There is a tangible difference that happens in your life when you prioritize quiet time with God. Our Heavenly Father always provides rest, joy, hope and peace when we come to Him.

As you read the Bible, open your mind to let each passage teach you something new. So, forget the to do list. Grab your favorite snacks, worship music, Bible, sit and get ready to know God more!

12 Ideas Of How You Can Connect with God Through Bible Reading

1. Meditate on one verse that stands out to you and brings encouragement for a situation you are in.
2. Try listening to an audio Bible and go for a walk.
3. Study a Psalm a day for a month.
4. Build your faith by studying the life of Jesus in the Gospels.
5. Write out a verse that speaks to you and put it somewhere you see often as a daily reminder.
6. Do a Bible study with another person.
7. Find a scripture that challenges you and do a deep dive on it's meaning and significance.
8. Practice memorizing a scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight one in particular for you!
9. Focus on one story and read different translations to see if you catch anything with one translation you didn't with another.
10. Find Bible verses you know with help a friend, and send it over.
11. Do a daily devotional.
12. Spend time studying stories in the Bible you never have before.

3). Find A Community: Connecting With God Through Fellowship

Quiet time spent in the Word of God is so important, but so is living alongside other believers, like Jesus did. Spending time in God's presence in a corporate setting at church is such an amazing way to connect with Him. The Bible promises in Matthew 18:20 that "where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them."

The Holy Spirit shows up when we all gather together in unity to pursue Him and His presence. We are such connection driven people; God created us to be in community. It makes such a difference! That is probably why we are exhorted in Hebrews to "not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another".

Who Do You Surround Yourself With?

The people we surround ourselves with matter. You want friends you can be honest with, pray with, sing and worship with, and talk to about real life issues. Those are the types of friends who will listen and hear you, pray with you, speak truth into your life and point you back to Jesus. Those are the friends who will strengthen your walk with God.

The Community Difference

The community you are part of impacts you, your spouse, and your kids! Running with others who are also in pursuit of God and are there to pray for you is indispensable. Find ways to connect with other believers by getting plugged into a local church and joining platforms like TUVU, the life giving digital community!

4). Create A Lifestyle Of Worship: How to Connect With God Throughout Your Day

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

Here are 25 practical ways you can turn mundane tasks into worship unto the Lord.

1. Make an effort to do your work, whether it be your job, chores or errands, to the best of your ability and with excellence, as if you were doing it for God, Himself.
2. Seek to serve others with joy, even when the work may not be glamorous or enjoyable.
3. Remember that your worth and identity are found in God, not in your work or accomplishments.
4. Sing and worship God throughout the day.
5. Be mindful of your motivations. Check your heart and make sure you are not seeking approval or recognition from others, only from God.
6. Look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with others, through kind words, actions, or attitude.

      7. Ask a person if you can pray for them.

      8. Remember your ultimate reward will no be found on earth, but in the eternal inheritance you       will receive from God.

      9. Keep an eternal perspective, remembering that your work and actions have significance       beyond this life, and can be used by God to further His kingdom.

      10. Take responsibility for your work, don't make excuses.

      11. Seek to learn and grow in your area of work to be the best you can be! Seek out education       and training.

      12. Be a team player in your workplace, support your colleagues and co-workers.

      13. Have integrity. Don't compromise your values even if it benefits you.

      14. Remember God is your judge and you are ultimately accountable to Him.

      15. Be willing to take on tasks or assignments outside of your comfort zone, and trust God to       help you succeed.

      16. Recognize that every job or task, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can be       used by God for His purposes.

      17. Show respect for others and their time by being punctual and reliable.

      18. Rely on the strength of God, not on your own.

      19. Stay humble and grateful, acknowledging that all of your skills, talents, and opportunities       come from God, and seeking to use them to glorify Him.

      20. Bare your cross like Jesus did. Be willing to face suffering and sacrifice for the sake of       following Jesus and obeying the will of God.

      21. Put aside your own desires and ambitions, and surrender your life to God's purposes.

      22. Look for ways to bless other peoples lives.

      23. Focus on the positive in any situation, don't complain but give thanks to God instead.       There is always something to be grateful for!

      24. Incorporate praying into your day whenever you can.

      25. Look for ways to connect with people and bring joy to their day.

Connecting with God is key to building a strong relationship with Him. We hope these tips for incorporating reading of the Word, investing in community, and cultivating a lifestyle of prayer and worship helped you. As you continue to seek the Lord, remember God is always there excited to reveal Himself to you in new and meaningful ways!

How do you connect with God? Share it on TUVU!

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