The worst happened this week. Okay, fine. It wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t good. Our internet was out for almost six hours one afternoon. My boys were home because it’s officially summer break. It was a rainy day, and I couldn’t easily send them outside. We stream our television and our music, so we were just out of luck.
Oh, Friends it was the longest of long afternoons. It was a provider outage, so there was nothing I could do to fix it. My kids refused to read or play a game. They wanted to play online video games with friends that required wi-fi. They wanted to stream their favorite shows. They began to utter the dreaded “I’m bored.”
Personally, I was delighted to spend some extra time reading that afternoon. As I began fixing dinner that evening without the streaming music I usually turn on, God reminded how important it is to stay connected to the source of all good things – Him.
We still had all the same devices. They all still worked perfectly fine. However, they weren’t living up to their potential when access to the internet was gone. I thought about that as I continued preparing dinner. I’m not living up to my potential when I’m disconnected from God.
I’ve struggled a little with that connection in the last few days. My routine gets altered when school is out, and the kids are home. My quiet time is less, and the distractions pile up as fast as the Popsicles in my deepfreeze disappear. If I don’t make the extra effort to keep that connection strong, I can tell it. It’s like having spotty wi-fi.
Staying connected to God, though, is more important than my wi-fi connection. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
When we have faith enough to do our part diligently, the connection with Him grows. The communication and signal strength from Him grows strong and secure. We begin to live up to our potential because we have the connection we were designed to have.
So, what can we do to get back online with Him when our connection has been spotty or lost altogether? I have found a few things that always work to get me back on track when I feel I have lost my connection.
First, I must acknowledge that the problem is on my end. We can’t begin to restore the connection until we realize that we’ve lost it, and we need to act.
Go to the Word. There is no better way to communicate with God than by reading His words. Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a light to our path. It is what shows us the way. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). John 1:1 (NKJV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” If we want to connect, reconnect, or strengthen our connection to God, the answer is the Word.
I find I do better with scheduled reading time early in the morning before I attempt to tackle the rest of my day. My connection is stronger when God’s words are the first ones I consume.
Next is prayer. Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy and full of eloquent words. It is simply talking to God. He speaks your language and understands your heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. I think of this as an ongoing conversation with God much like I have with my closest friends. That’s how we have a strong connection with a spouse or friends, we talk to them regularly. If we want a strong connection with God, we must talk to Him consistently and often. We must be vulnerable and share our hearts with Him. He can handle whatever you offer Him.
And just like with any strong relationship, we must make time to listen. This is often the culprit of my disconnect. I get busy asking and telling God things and forget to listen. There’s a difference between talking “at” and talking “with.” We are never going to feel connected to God if we don’t learn to listen for Him. It is hard but so worthwhile. Nothing strengthens your connection and builds your faith like hearing from God.
Finally, I find that loving one another helps strengthen my connection with the Lord. Love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). That’s what we’re supposed to do. When we find ways to obey that command, God rewards us with connection. Connection with Him. Connection with others. We begin to live up to the potential of our design.
Friends, if you’re struggling with your connection to God, read, pray, and love. It’s not a connection you can afford to be without.
