Three things you can do to stay close to God

Self ReflectionWomen in the BibleEncouragement

Aug 17

Three Things You Can Do to Stay Close to God Image of Taneka Rubin sitting by the ocean — `Image of the author's daughter, Taneka Rubin, sitting by the ocean.`

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Have you experienced times when you felt that you were doing everything that you know to do. Yet nothing seemed to make meaningful impact in your life.

Let’s be honest, at times we don't know what to do. At times we get lost in the shuffle of life, and sometimes feel disconnected from those around us, as well as from God.

What do you do in those times? Where do you turn for answers, for solutions, or to get unstuck?

One tip I can give is to stay focused on the last guiding direction that you received.

But, what if even that doesn't seem to be enough?

I want to share...

Three things you can do to stay close to God and receive just what you need.

If you trust God as your source.
If you trust Him as the guide for your life.
If you believe His Word is true.
Then, there are ways to bind yourself close to Him so you don’t get lost in the shuffle of life or you don’t stay lost in it.
Seek Him although your eyes don't see.
We see through the glass darkly is how the scripture refers to our inability to know all the details. There are different ways to look at this limited vision we experience.
One is that if we knew all the details we may decide the cost of following Him is too much to pay. We may get distracted and overwhelmed with the facts.
I believe God in his infinite, unlimited, wisdom only allow us to see and know limited details on our life’s journey so that we continue to seek Him. So we don’t get lost in what we do know.
We can seek the Lord even when we don’t see that He’s at work in our situations. Don’t give up on life, love, happiness, joy, peace, our big dreams and goals, or any other worthwhile effort, simply because we can’t see.
Trust God and live.
Praise Him while your lips can still sing
Praising God is an act that takes the focus from us to Him. Offering up praise to Him puts us in a posture to receive.
When we receive what we need, offering up praises to Him is a form of thanksgiving. Whether you’re saying Lord I need you or Lord I thank you, praise Him while your lips can still sing.
Miriam did this, she offered praises to God when He used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. This was the first recorded praise in the Bible.
It’s totally awesome to me as a woman that Miriam was the first person to lead praise and worship unto God. It’s also wonderful to know that our free expression of praise moves God.
If you find that you need answers, praise Him. After He answers, praise Him. There’s never an inappropriate time for this powerful expression of how you feel about your Heavenly Father.
Listen while you can still hear
God is always speaking. Have you ever heard this? Do you believe it?
One way to see this as truth is to listen with our 5 senses to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. When you engage with each of your senses, you may feel the presence of your Almighty God. At that point, listen with the expectation to gain a better understanding of what God is saying in your situation.
I experience this often. I don’t know what to do in a given situation. When I tune into my body and mind, and I pray, it is then that my natural thoughts calm down. Entering into this place of rest, yes while I’m awake, helps me to listen. It’s inevitable that I get my answer from God when I move everything else out of the equation.
Sometimes my answer is to just wait especially when there is no distinct answer from above. I’ve learned that it’s ok to wait.
I think in some ways Miriam experienced this while she toiled with leprosy. During her isolation, she had to wait. There was nothing specific she could do. What a great time to listen, when you’re in a place where you can do nothing or go no where.
It’s here that I smile because we live in a society where there’s always some place we could go.
Consider this, instead of a God-issued punishment or exile, why not put yourself in a place to listen while you can still hear…and do that of your own free will.