7 Ways to Connect to God.
Spiritual Disciplines
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18
God is always with us, no matter what we go through in life. He understands our pain and sorrow, and He offers comfort and salvation. If you are feeling lost or disconnected from God, here are seven ways to connect with God again:
- Prayer: There is a lot of evidence to suggest that prayer has physical benefits. For example, studies have shown that prayer can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve heart health. Prayer also seems to have a positive effect on the immune system, and may even help fight cancer. If you find yourself getting frustrated in prayer, you are not alone. You can read about that here.
- Reading the Bible: If you're looking to start reading the Bible, but don't know where to start, here are some suggestions. Start with the Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus' life and ministry. Another good option is the book of Psalms, which is full of beautiful poetry and prayers. You can also read the New Testament, which tells the story of Christianity from its beginning. My favorite is Philippians. It's full of joy and encouragement!
- Meditation: There are many different ways to meditate, but the basic idea is the same. You focus your thoughts on a specific object or mantra, and you allow all other thoughts to pass by without paying attention to them. This allows you to relax and focus on the present moment. I consider meditation a form of prayer. Specifically Centering Prayer which you can find out more at http://www.centeringprayer.
com/ - Fasting: Fasting has been around for centuries and is still practiced by people of all faiths today. There are many reasons to fast, including spiritual, physical, and emotional benefits. Here are some tips to get you started: Start small. Give up one thing at one meal. Build up to more. Let the process remind you that you rely on God.
- Worship: spend 3 minutes each day loving God. That's it. I cannot stress the difference that this can make. I'd love to hear your story once you do this for a few weeks.
- Service to others: Jesus said that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. When you serve others, you are showing love in action. When we give of ourselves selflessly, we open up our hearts and minds to the needs of others. We recognize that we are all part of the same human family, and that each one of us has something valuable to offer. By serving others, we not only make a difference in their lives, but we also enrich our own. When we give of ourselves, we receive so much in return. We receive the satisfaction of knowing that we have made a difference in someone else's life. We receive the joy of connecting with another person in a deeper way. And we receive the blessings of God, who loves us unconditionally and desires only what is best for us. When we serve others, we are truly connecting to God.
- Witnessing to others: Note this doesn't say "converting others." It is letting others see God in you and telling them the message that they are loved. When we witness, we are connecting to God. We are recognizing that He is the source of our faith. We are also declaring our allegiance to Him When we share our faith with others, we are giving them the opportunity to know God as well. Witnessing is an essential part of being a follower of Christ, and it is something that we should all be striving to do. By sharing our faith with others, we can bring them into a relationship with God and see His power at work in their lives.
No matter how you choose to grow your faith, the most important thing is that you make the effort. When we put in the work, we not only benefit ourselves but also bring glory to God. I encourage you to try out some of these tips and see how they work for you. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need help getting started.
-Shannon
P.S. - Let me hear from you! What are some of your ways to connect to God?