The brand new year lays before you. With all the talk of a new decade, the horizon may look either bright or foggy ahead for you. My prayer for all of us is a closer walk with God. He’s the one who sees the decade ahead. He’s the one who is the bringer of hope and peace. He’s the one that brings all the connections we need. How can you connect more with God in 2020?
Desire
What are your desires in connecting with God? Take some time early this month to dream about what a close, connected relationship with God and Jesus could look like, sound like, feel like. He says in James 4:8 a (NIV),
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
By identifying your own desires in connecting with God, you have the basis or passion for setting up a meeting with Him each day. Draw out your desires, put them in writing, even find quotes or Bible verses that speak to what your heart desires in connecting with God. What do you want in connecting with Him in a relationship?
Believe
Once you identify your desires, do you believe He, too, wants to connect with you? Like in any good friend relationship you have, connecting with God is a two-way relationship. You have to believe He wants to connect with you. Have you connected with Jesus personally?
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:16-17 Msg.
I remember myself when I connected with Jesus. I often joke that God had to take me to Texas to meet Jesus. We had moved to Dallas, Texas for my husband’s work. I sat listening to my pastor ask if everyone had asked Jesus to forgive their sins. “As a matter of fact, I hadn’t.” I thought to myself. When I specifically asked Jesus’ forgiveness, I remember the new connections I made with the Bible, like the words began jumping off the page, as if they were written just for me. He began to put the world right again for me.
God promises that when you call out to Him, you will find Him.
At that time, you will call out for Me, and I will hear. You will pray, and I will listen. You will look for Me intently, and you will find Me. Yes, I will be found by you,” says the Lord God. Jeremiah 29:12-14 The Voice
Time
Finally, as you have identified your desires, confirmed your belief that He, too, wants to meet with you, it’s time to set up your connection times. Building a relationship with God, like any good relationship, takes time.
My pastor recently used his marriage relationship as an illustration for setting up time to meet with God. He said he and his wife can go several days with snatches of conversation, just getting the basics of life handled. However, they need time together, not on the run, where they can sit and listen to each other and hear what is on each other’s heart.
God is like that, too. You can start building a relationship with God on ten minutes a day. He can say a lot in ten minutes, although it may take that long for you to quiet your mind. He can also speak to you throughout the day through breathe prayer.
However, you will find He has more to say to you in extended, regular connection times as you meet over time. If you’re not sure where to start, go back to lectio divina , examen or even silence and solitude practices that we’ve talked about recently. You can also download my new petition prayer handout.
My encouragement to you is to decide when, where and what you want in a timeframe in your connection time with God. Start small and build up in your connection times with Him. I can’t wait to hear what happens!
The Takeaway
Ready to start your new decade? How will you connect with God on a more regular basis? What is your heart’s desire? What do you believe about His desire to connect with you?
If you would like to explore ways to hear His voice, I would love to set up a time to meet and pray with you. Spiritual direction is that one on one time that creates safe spaces for you to hear God’s voice and have a friend to travel with you. Contact me for a experiential session.
My Prayer for You
For the new year, I am praying for each of you. I look forward to what God will be doing in each of your lives. The following prayer is from Psalm 62, The Passion Translation. The emphasis are mine . I hope you can make this your prayer, too.
Lord God,
I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the One I love,
waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me.
Only God is my Savior, and He will not fail me.
For He alone is my safe place.
His wrap-around presence always protects me
as my champion defender.
There’s no risk of failure with God!
So why would I let worry paralyze me,
even when troubles multiply around me?
God’s glory is all around me!
His wrap-around presence is all I need,
for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.
Join me, everyone!
Trust only in God every moment!
Tell Him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to Him.
Believe me when I tell you—He will help you!
Pause in his presence
May 2020 be the year of amazing connections to His wrap-around presence..
Amen
Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.
Nancy Booth wants to create safe spaces for you, helping you find ways to have two-way conversations with God. She loves encouraging you to look for ways He is at work. Nancy is a spiritual director and writer. She would love to accompany you on your journey of discovery to hear and see more of the God who delights in you. Peace, hope and freedom could be yours Contact her today..
This is a great inspiration to “resolve” to commit to daily relationship time — with some practical tips and tricks to get going. Blessings on your instruction, Nancy.
I am glad that you found inspiration Cam. Looking forward to hearing about how your relationship grows. Blessings!