What Does A Relationship With God Look Like

It’s tempting to make this process more complicated than it needs to be.

C.S. Lewis said it this way, “Good things as well as bad you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: If you want to get wet, you must go into the water. If you want to joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must go close to, or even into the thing that has them. they are a great fountain of energy and beauty sporting up at the very center of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you: if you are not, you will remain dry.”

Don’t make it complicated

If you have a desire to build a relationship with God, you have already taken the essential first step. This desire sets your intention and focus. The rest is a matter of taking regular baby steps towards God, and being open to what happens.

If you want a relationship with God, you have to go, metaphorically, to where God is in place yourself in His presence. Only in that way you can receive the gifts He wants to give you.

God is always present, but never pushy

God is not going to knock you over to get close to you. We have the freedom to invite Him into our lives or not. you’re not going to wake up one morning with that certain feeling, you’ve become friends with God. Like human relationships, it usually takes an investment of time and attention and caring, and it’s up to you to take the initiative and moving closer to God -of placing yourself in His presence, and just abiding there. It’s rarely dramatic. You might not even feel anything at all at first. But when you do this over and over again, the emotion and belief will follow, and you begin to trust He is with you and guiding you.

Applying the KISS principle

Don’t make this hard — the KISS principle comes to mind; keep it simple, stupid. Think of building a relationship with God just as you would relationship with anyone else you might wish to know better.

6 simple steps to building a relationship with God

1. Take the time to touch bases with God, acknowledging and giving thanks for His presence.

2.Invite Him to come close. Invite him to sit with you at your hearts kitchen table and just hang out.

3. Talk. Some days this fall feel like pouring out your heart. Other days, it will be casual chit-chat occasionally, are you will be able to manage is “Here I am Lord. Please be with me.“ Between friends, it’s all good.

4. Listen. Remember to make it a two way conversation and expect to hear from God, just as you were from a trusted friend. God want you to know how much He loves you. He wants to offer support, and guidance to you. If you don’t take time to listen, you won’t hear His still small voice. For me, this communication from God comes in many various forms; thoughts, feelings, music, reading, nature, other people, or circumstances. Sometimes it’s just a feeling in the pit of my stomach being at peace with a situation or being upset let’s me know which way to go.

5. Make contact throughout your day. Being in touch with God doesn’t have to be only during times of meditation and prayer. It can be, while you’re on the run, when you are in the midst of activities, or when you have a moments break.

An Experience I had with this a few weeks ago really explains this perfectly. An acquaintance of mine had been losing her voice. She’s been to the doctor and had numerous tests. As I was having a conversation with her I audibly heard God say “Ask her if they checked her thyroid. So I told her God wants to know if you’ve had your thyroid checked. She kind of looked at me strange. And said “No, but I’ll do that. That’s what, having a relationship with God looks like.

6. Take action when you hear God’s voice. if you feel God is guiding you, or telling you, something, take action on it as soon as possible. The insight you receive may only show you where to take the next step, but once you’ve taken one step, the following ship will appear in front of you. Even though there is electrical power in your house, the light doesn’t turn on until you flip the switch to harness that power. Gods power is waiting for you to remember to flip the switch.

I believe in the Trinity – God at three in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So when I go to Jesus in prayer, or when I feel the power of God‘s Holy Spirit, it is all God to me. If you identify with one form or more than another, by all means, use that form, and you are visualization of God.

If you make the six steps regular practice, expect it to take time. This is a lifelong journey, not a sprint. You will find yourself gradually learning to recognize, gods voice, and beginning to trust it. One day, you’ll realize you’re in a relationship with God that is treasured and invaluable in your life. Don’t confuse the emotion with the reality. Even with earthly friends, some days you feel closer than others. True friendships surpass the day-to-day vagaries of emotion.

According to natural law, we grow like those with whom we associate, and the strongest character always exercises the controlling influence.

Hannah Whithall Smith
A Relationship With God

Fair-Weather Friends

“Many people say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful” – Proverbs 20:6

There are different kinds of troubles in life. Some could be personal while some could involve other people. Troubles could come because of something one has done and there could be other reasons for them.

Probably, everyone will prefer a situation where they don’t experience troubles at all. However, the reality is that everybody experiences, one trouble or the other. There nature and gravity just differ.

Psalm 27:5 says, “For he will console me there when troubles come, he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.“ And Nahum 1:7 tells us, The Lord is good, a strong hold for the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.”

You may not know your true friends when things are going well for you. Negative situations will reveal genuine friends. In Proverbs 19 it says, Wealth makes many friends; poverty drives them away.”

Many of those some rich people called her friends, are people who are only interested in their riches, and not in them. They are not loyal to them; hard times reveal they are not true friends. My friend is always loyal. A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Through thick and thin, real friends are glued to their friends, but fair- weather friends are not. They stop being friends with their friends are in trouble. They are just around you because of what they can get from you; they’re exploiters. In adversity, they abandon you. They don’t even mind you wanting others to keep you down in your trouble or not help you overcome it.

Proverbs 18:24 says. “A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Judas Iscariot ate with Jesus and still betrayed him with a kiss. (Matthew 26:23-25; Luke 22:48).

When trouble comes our way we find out who our real friends are. It’s important not to become a fair-weather friends.

The two best things a person can lose in life are probably fair-weather friends and some weight” – Anonymous

My Protection Plan

Let’s face it – the world is getting uglier and scarier with each passing day. It’s natural to want to protect ourselves and the people we love and keep them safe from the evil that lurks around every corner. It’s good to have a reliable source to go to ensure safety. My reliable source is God.

Here is my protection plan to ensure safety for myself and loved ones that I rely on.

Praying For Protection Against Evil

God always looks out for us, even when we may not realize it. He never leaves us or forsakes us. All we are required to do is commit our safety into God’s hands.

  • Set Aside A Quiet Peaceful Place

Find a calm and undisturbed space where you can focus on prayer without distractions

  • Begin With Revernce

Start your prayer by acknowledging and praising God’s power, goodness, and love. This helps to center your mind and spirit in a place of trust and faith.

  • Express Your Concerns

Share your specific concerns and fears with God. Be honest and open about the areas in your life where you feel vulnerable or threatened.

  • Seek God’s Protection

Ask God for His divine protection and intervention in your life. Pray for His guidance, strength, and wisdom to navigate any challenges or temptations that may come your way.

  • Claim God’s Promises

Draw on the promises of God’s Word. See Psalm 91. Declare these promises as you seek His protection. Declare “God is my refuge,” He will deliver me from the snare of the Fowler” “No evil will happen to me…”

  • Repent and Renounce

If there are any known sins or areas in your life where you have strayed from God’s ways, confess them to Him and seek His forgiveness. Renounce any connection or involvement with evil or ungodly influences.

  • Put On The Spiritual Armor

Invoke the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:10-18, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, and prayer. Visualize yourself putting on each piece of armor and ask for God‘s protection through each peace.

  • Pray For Spiritual Discernment

Ask God to give you discernment to recognize and avoid evil influences, temptations, and deception. Pray for clarity and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

  • End With Gratitude And Trust

End your prayer with gratitude for God’s love, protection, and faithfulness. Express your trust in His ability to guard and guide you, knowing that He is greater than any evil you may face.

  • In Jesus Name Amen

This is my plan, you can adapt your own plan and steps as you pray for your protection.

Amen means ‘so be it’ or ‘may it be so.’

3 Years Into The Future

What will your life be like in three years?

I don’t think I can say what the next 3 years now will look like. I put that in God’s hands.

But, hopefully after some over-haul gets done on these warn of body parts, I will be able to get back into hiking, and swimming.

Invented Holiday

Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate.

If I invented a holiday it would be a community gardening day. Where we could all help build a community garden and plant some food.

With what’s happening in our society today, there should be a day set aside to put differences away and enjoy each other’s company and plant something that would better the entire community. What this world needs is more love no hate.

Everything God Creates Satan Counterfeits

The more valuable something is, the more likely it is, should be counterfeited. This explains why a fake Rolex watches, make Gucci handbags, and fake Jordan sneakers, along with counterfeit currency are so proliferous.

The other night I was watching a show on television it was called “How To Catch A Smuggler.” I never really thought about how much counterfeit merchandise is smuggled over the borders until I watched this show. It got me thinking about how Satan is a smuggler.

God creates, Satan counterfeits. The simple idea help unlock a lot of the Bible. Satan is a counterfeit of God. Demons are the counterfeit of angels. The world is the counterfeit of the kingdom. Lies are the Kounterfeit of truth. Demon possession is the Kounterfeit of being spirit filled. I want to look at the gospel of John, it’s shows us more counterfeits as Jesus approaches the cross.

First, there is a counterfeit high priest, who seek to condemn Jesus the real high priest for being guilty of sin -John 18:19-24. Second, there is a counterfeit judge who wrongly participate in the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus, the real Judge -John 18:28-32. Third, there is a counterfeit king, who demands allegiance over Jesus, the real king -John 18:33-38.

Working behind all of this religious, legal, and political evil was Satan and demonic forces. If we look at today’s demons, we learn that “the rulers of this age crucified, “the Lord of Glory” – 1 Corinthians 2:8. After failing to destroy and overthrow Jesus, in heaven, they repeat their efforts on the earth. At the Passover meal, Satan has already entered Judas Iscariot, the counterfeit disciple. “after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.” Satan also sought to turn Peter into a counterfeit disciple, and nearly succeeded. “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like flour, but I have prayed for you, that you were faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” – John 22:31-32.

The power in a counterfeit is that it deceives someone into wrongly, leaving that what they have is real, and valuable When it is in fact, fake false and worthless. For this reason, it is vital that God’s people learn to distinguish that which is created by God versus that which is counterfeited by Satan.

I remember thinking at age 12 that my neighbor who was a respiratory therapist that I ran every night with at 6:00 was a good person who just cared about what I went through every day. Was not so, he was a child molester who only befriended me to take advantage of me. He was a counterfeit parental figure that cared for my wellbeing, that had only his own sexual desires in mind.

What things come to mind in your life where you have been fooled by a counterfeit?

God Creates Satan Counterfeits

Why Did God Give Us The Ten Commandments?

Sometimes I’m amazed about how few people know about and commandments. Polls have shown that only 49% of Christians 44% of Catholics could name only four of the Ten Commandments.

The 10 Commandments are just as Porten to you today as they were centuries ago because commandments are God’s method for liberating us to experience blessings we could never imagine possible.

God gave the ten commandments for the personal well-being of his people. In Exodus 29:2, God said, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” God had already redeemed his people and brought them out of slavery. And now that they were out on their own, he was getting in the rules that would govern their lives.

Many people believe the Old Testament teaches. The law saves us in the New Testament teaches us we are saved by grace. that is not true. In the New Testament, there is law as well as grace. When you become a true believer, it doesn’t mean you have no law it means you serve under the new law that God gives. In the old testament, he can law did not say people. That was impossible. No man could be saved by keeping the law, because no man could keep the law. You find Grace in the pages of the Old Testament. You find God’s grace in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned, when God killed an animal, and took the skin and covered Adam and Eve. You see grace and faith in Genesis 115:6 when Abraham “believed in the Lord and he reckoned it to him as righteous.” We are saying the same way whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Every person is saved by grace, which is appropriated through faith. God gave a law, not you save his people, but you teach them how to live.

The law was given to serve as a foundation for the nation of Israel. There are three essentials for any nation. A nation has to have a common people, a common land, and a common law or constitution. God had already given the Israelites, a common people when he called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans. They were headed to the common land, the land of Canaan. But what they needed to find them together what is the constitution, a law. That’s what we find in the beginning of Exodus 20.

And last, but not least, God gave the law to remind the people of their own sinfulness. Did God believe the Israelites were actually going to keep the law? Of course not. That’s why God instituted a sacrificial system with the understanding that they would need forgiveness. The book of James says the law is like a mirror that shows us how dirty our lives really are. In the book of Galatians, Paul refutes, the.Judaizers, who thought the law was what saved them. Paul said no. He explained, “ The law have to come our tutor to lead us to christ, so that we may become justified by faith” -Galatians 3:24. A tutor, and Paul’s day was a slave who would walk the child to school. And Paul is saying that the law is like a tutor and attendant, who leads us to Jesus Christ.

The law doesn’t save us. It reminds us of how much we need God’s forgiveness and salvation.

The Consequences Of Anger

Holding onto anger does not accomplish God’s will; instead it destroys us and poisons others.

When was the last time you were angry, and how did you respond? We all get agitated at one time or another -even God Himself feels anger. However, because we are human we, don’t always respond in the best way. Ephesians 4:26 tells us, “Be angry, and yet do not sin.”

We can look at any social media platform and see anger, and sin firsthand. People being angry because of the way others views differ from theirs. America along with the rest of the world is a perfect picture of “hate,” hate for the ‘other president’, hate for the other political party, hate for religion, hate because one has a different color of skin.

Human’s hold on to anger, and when resentment takes up residence in our hearts, it twists our thinking and emotions and robs us of peace. That hate spills over into our families, then the family deteriorates.

We might speak hurtful words, even to those who aren’t the cause of our rage. We begin to harbor anger, unresolved bitterness takes over. Our bodies cling to negativity that is destructive.

Slowly Satan creeps into our lives, our families, our hearts, and our minds.

The War in the realm Heaven and Hell is getting intense. So much so we are seeing in its effects here on earth. It’s plain to see Satan hates us and we are falling right into his plan for us to hate too.

The Consequences Of Anger

My Favorite Websites

What are your favorite websites?

My favorite websites are walkingkabbalah.com it’s a website that shows the meanings of the Hebrew alphabet.

I go to six sister stuff their recipes are always good it’s found with a search or you-tube.

Another one I enjoy, just because it’s site with all the Bible versions. I use this when I’m doing a deep bible study. BibleGateway.com.

Age re-lived

Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

What age would I want to do over. I would definitely want to live my 20’s over. Because that’s when one really decides who they are and who they are going to be.

Of course, I would want to take the wisdom and knowledge that I have right now about life with me.

I would choose a career instead of a job. And would have moved out of this rural area that I now live. I probably would have decided not to have kids until later, and work on just being me for awhile.

The Nations Rebel

Psalm 2

  • The Reign of The Lord’s Anointed
  • When God Laughs

The theme of the Psalm 2 Emphasize in a final verse. We can defy God and perish, or we can surrender to God, and be blessed.

The rage of the nations, and the laugh of God.

“Why did the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The king of the Earth set themselves, and the rulers, take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against His anointed saying, Let us break their bonds in pieces Their records from us -Psalm 2.

Why did the nations rage: David seems to be generally mystified. The nations have no reason to rage against God, and they have no benefit in raging against Him. opposition against God is nothing but a vain thing.

The rulers take counsel together: Since the time of Babel, men have continued to band himself together against God. They are mistaken. belief is that two or more man united against God they would have a better chance than one man against God.

Against the Lord, and against His Anointed: They oppose both the Lord and His anointed. Anointed speaks of Christ, and the Anointed One. Since Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father (John 10:30; 14:9), opposing God the Father, is to oppose Jesus. If you are against Jesus, you are against God the Father.

Let Us Break Their Bonds In Peace’s: Those who oppose the Lord and His Anointed think of God as a bondage bringer. This attitude is evidence of spiritual insanity, because God is a bondage breaker, not a bondage bringer.

To a gracious neck, the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light. We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yolk, or do we wish to cast it from us?

Henry Spurgeon

The Lords Laugh From Heaven: “He who sits in the heaven, shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in the derision. Then he will speak to them in His wrath, and distress him in His deep displeasure. Yet I have set My King (Jesus) on My holy hill of Zion” -Psalm 2:4-6

He who sits in the heavens, shall laugh: God looks at the way man plot against Him, and He laughs. God isn’t afraid or confused or depressed about the opposition of man. God laughs at it.

God laughs because He sits in the heavens. He sits as the great King on a glorious throne. He isn’t pacing back-and-forth in his throne room of heaven, wondering what He should do next. God sits in perfect peace and assurance.

God laughs because He sits in the heavens. It isn’t an earthly throne He occupies; it is the throne of heaven with authority over all creation. What does heaven have to fear from earth.

God does not Tremble . He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not He has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to His kingdom. He does not even rise from where He is sitting. He simply laughs at these great imbeciles.

The Lord shall hold them in derision. Through the centuries, many have opposed God and His kingdom. Each one of these opponents shall frustrated and crashed.

A famous example of an opponent Christianity was the Roman emperor Diocletian who reigned from A.D. 284-305. He was such an determined enemy of Christians that he persecuted the church mercilessly, and fancied that he had defeated Christianity. He ordered the making of metal with this inscription “The name of Christianity being extinguished The name of Christianity being extinguished.”

Diocletian is dead and gone, a footnote on the pages of history. The theme in glory of Jesus Christ is spread over all the earth. The Lord hold them in derision.

He should speak to them in his wrath: God laughs in heaven, but He doesn’t remain inactive. He laughs, but He doesn’t only laugh. Before He acts against defiant mankind. He first speaks to rebellious humanity.

This shows the great mercy of God. He has every reason, and every right to simply act against defiant men. Love and mercy compel God to speak a word of warning before He acts..

I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. God wants defiant mankind to know what He has established a King. Defiant mean, closest in view in the Psalms are kings and rulers, and God wants them .to know there is a King greater than they are. God’s King is established in Jerusalem.

God’s decree to the nations (Psalm 2:7-9. The decree to Son.”I will declare and decree: The Lord has said to Me, you are My Son, Day, I have begotten You. The nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the Earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You have a dash into pieces like a potters vessel.

“I will declare and decree: The following passage indicates that this is the Lord’s Anointed Himself speaking. He will declare that decree that God the Father spoke to Him.

You are My Son, today I have you gotten you: The Lord’s anointed recalls with God, the Father spoke to Him, identifying Him as a Son of the Father, and emphasizing His Son standing as begotten of the Father.

Begotten is an important idea, as a contrast to created. Jesus was not created.; Rather He created everything that was created – Colossians 1:16-17. Begotten described our relationship between two beams of the same essential nature and being, but we create the end of a different essential beings in nature than ourselves. A man creates a statue, but begets a child.

I will give Your the nations for Your inheritance: The Lord‘s anointed holds the nation as His inheritance. He will rule over the nations, and all judgment is committed to Him -John 5:22.

Revelation 11:15 Describe an exciting consummation of this inheritance. Then the seventh angel sounded: and there was a loud voice in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of our world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

You shall break them with the rod of iron: The Lord’s Anointed has such power over the nations that they are like clay pots that He can shatter with a blow on the rod of iron. This shows why it is so full for the nations to defy the Lord and His Anointed. There is no reason and no benefit to their defiant opposition.

Kiss the Son: This primarily has in mind, the kiss of submission, where a dignitary receives a humble kiss of an inferior. Also hints at the affection God wants in relationship to Him. God wants us to recognize our proper place before Him, but also rejoice in Him, and be affectionate in our relationship.

Kissing was a token of subjugation and friendship.

If the kings and judges of the Earth are commanded to humble them selves before the Lord’s Anointed, recognizing His total superiority, then what of the rest of us? Speaking to the kings, in judgment, therefore includes all of humanity.

Blessed are those who put their trust in Him: Go to big five God are broken, but those who depend on Him are blessed. David leaves the tours with everyone broken or Blessed?

The war in Israel is the physical manifestation of “The war in the Heavenlies” being fought over America right now.

The prayer movement God is raising up to pray for America and now Israel for the times the church and our nations are ‘right now.’