AWAKENING: Confession and Assurance - A message about becoming closer to God through confession

We all have our ways of becoming closer to God on an individual basis. Some prefer music, some enjoy mediation, others may enjoy the spoken word, and others may become closer through the written word. However, I wonder if you have ever thought about becoming closer to God through confession?

To reconcile difference, admit your wrong, receive forgiveness and be able to release to weight of the wrong can be a great connecter between two parties. To come to God with a matter that needs confession and clean up your heart, will likely cause you to become much closer to Him.

Sunday, we looked at Psalms 130:1-2 where the psalmist is crying out of the depths to God to rescue him. When you are in the depths of your life, are you drawn to appeal to God or try to solve it on your own? The challenge is for us to know that we can come closer to Him, connect to Him, and have a time of worship all through confession. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Desperation Brings Humility ~ Oftentimes when we are in a desperate situation, we are likely to release our ego and seek Him. We realize we are not in control and it is God who is in control will help us release what needs to be fixed to the One in control. May we seek to release the things we cannot control to Him!
• Become Empty ~ Each day we need to release some part of our lives to God. Maybe it is our ego, our fears, our worries, or our control to Him and let Him be the driver of the day. Letting Him fill our void so it will be less of us and more of Him.
• Clean Your Heart ~ God needs to associate with purity. The blood of Jesus purifies the Christian continually. Is there anything that is clouding your heart and needs to be cleansed? Seek Him!
• Stay Strong! ~ As Joseph (Genesis 37) had no idea how long he was going to be in the pit that his brothers put him in, he appeared to stay strong to his God and was rewarded. Even when we have no idea how long we are going to remain in a "pit" may we stay strong and see what God is going to do with our life.

Just like two parties becoming closer through heart-to-heart connection, I think we become closer to God in similar ways. Confession allows people to know the inner us, as it lets others see our weaknesses. This can be tough because we don't want to appear as weak in front of anyone. However, know with God, He loves us through it all.

Thankfully, we have a God who is always there for us! Let us become closer to Him as time allows for confession.

Now it's your turn...when have you become closer to someone/God through confession?

AWAKENING: Delighting in the Word - A message prompting us to draw closer to God through the Word

"Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalm 51:10), "Rejoice in the Lord, always" (Philippians 4:4), "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24), and "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Psalm 150) are all verses that came to mind which bring me closer to Him. These are all fitting at various times in my life but they all are helpful. They connect me closer to Him in some way, shape, or form, and I love that about the Word of God.

It amazes me how the Word of God can be considered irrelevant by many and relevant by many others. I can relate to both sides, as I have gone through stages in my life where I thought there was many places which the Bible was kind of a waste. It wasn't until I saw the greatness of it in my life and relevance in the lives of mankind in which I was able to deeply appreciate what it had to say. I am not only talking about the "favorite" or more "popular" verses but those verses which have hidden gems inside of them.

Sunday, we looked at how we can be brought closer to Him by being able to "delight in the Word." Looking at the Word and reading it can be a time of worship in which we can become in awe and connect with our Creator. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Aiming for the Top ~ Looking for something to live up to seems to be something we all start out desiring. In that, it is very helpful to have something that is worth living up to. Something that is perfect, like the Word of God, is a great example of how to aspire to be something great. If it is something mediocre, then we don't have very high to aim! Let's aim high and allow His Word to take us there!
• Generating Wisdom ~ I've known people that seem to have a wealth of knowledge, both about their area of expertise and about trivial knowledge. There is something special about how the Bible will create a new skill level inside of us. We will have a new sense of knowledge after understanding the Bible (or even certain texts) better. As you take the Bible in its little segments and apply it to your life, may it be something that takes on a new meaning to your life.
• Bringing About Joy ~ When my kids are pouting and I know that they are not hurt, I will often try to lighten mood by doing something that makes them smile or laugh. It takes their mind off of their problems or pity party for a few minutes to get them to be more joyful. I am in awe of God when He puts before me a verse, person, or situation that brings joy to my life. This causes me to take my mind off of my issue and focus on Him. I am awakened to the greatness of Him.

What are your favorite verses, that bring you joy and closer to Him? What are some of your favorite songs that point you to Him?

We all have various ways and desires that will cause us to be awakened to the concept of worshiping Him. We are all created a bit differently, so we will be attracted to Him differently. Our challenge is simply to delight in the Word and enjoy what it brings to our life!

Now its your turn...what allows you to "delight in the Word?"

Ten Suggestions for Keeping a Close Relationship Between You and God

If I was ever given the opportunity to meet someone "famous", and I mean someone that I would really like to meet, I think I would act starstruck. I would be a little lost for words, but I would eventually figure out how to actually talk to them like anyone else. A question for you is "would you act the starstruck or like your normal self?"

If given  more chances to talk to them, how would you act more normal? You would probably develop a set of guidelines to have yourself go by. Maybe you'd say "Don't say 'I can't believe I'm getting the chance to meet you" over and over again. Or, you would not ask all kinds of questions about them, and just treat them like you would any other person you met for the second or third time? 

That takes us into thinking about what we would do if we had the chance to meet God.  If you're like me, you've got a lot of questions to ask.  Why this? Why that? How this?  How that?  Would you think to just ask about Him?  Would you ask questions that showed you cared about Him or just questions that benefited you and your curiosity?  

Yesterday we looked at another lesson from the Tulsa Workshop, also by Randy Harris, titled "Ten Suggestions for Keeping a Close Relationship Between You and God".  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Appreciate ~ When you first start praying or talking to God, let Him know the things you appreciate, first, before you start asking
2. Enjoy the Journey With Each Other ~ The family of God is more powerful when we're together.  When we're splintered, we're weak.  When we're at odds with each other, we're being splintered...hence we're weaker.
3. Risky Business ~ That is a description of being a Christian.  Are you willing to take the risks?  Will you take the risks that are associated with this lifestyle? The best part of it is that you will develop a closer relationship with Him!
4. Slow Down ~ Life is too short not to enjoy the journey.
5. Find the Dark ~ Let your light shine in a place or with a person that needs it.  You don't need light in the light; but in the dark. That's where your light can shine!
6. Invest ~ Are there things in your life that you have committed too much time toward?  Maybe you need to think about what is taking you away from being an invested Christian.
7. Enjoy Now ~ What can you do right now, where you're at, with what you have to make a difference for God?  Depending on Him will draw you closer to Him.

You want to have a closer relationship with Him?  Take one of the applications to see if it fits in your life. A complete list of the ten suggestions are listed below.

#1 - Quit Whining, #2 - Form Covenant, #3 - Memorize the Sermon on the Mount, #4 - Take a Risk, #5 - Walk (vs. Run), #6 - Relocate, #7 - Calm Down, #8 - Simplify, Materially, #9 - Commit, #10 - Be Present

Let's work together in making our individual relationships with God stronger, which will make our entire relationship with Him stronger.

"I Give Up!" - Introduction - Luke 14:28-33

Giving up is something that comes easy when it involves something you do not care that much about.  Maybe it is because you lost your passion/interest in the area, so you decide to just give up.  There are factors that may contribute to the losing of interest.  Maybe it is because you thought you weren't good at doing something, so you gave up.  Maybe it is because you had been absent from your routine (going to a group gathering) so you gave up.

On the flip side, giving up is more difficult when it is something that you are more passionate.  Going on a "diet" could be difficult because you feel you must give up all the foods you used to like.  Quitting smoking, quitting drinking, or the cessation of drug use may sound good on the surface, but it is quite difficult to do when it comes to actually following through with it and sticking with the commitment.  Giving up on sedentary a lifestyle can be very difficult to give up as you have to take time to exercise, especially when your schedule has a hard time allowing you to fit in the exercise regimen.

Yesterday, we began a series called "I Give Up" where I challenged the people to think of something that they would be willing to give up, that was important, but wouldn't make them "moan and groan".  It is to try to realize that the void is to allow you to cause you to be drawn closer to Him.  Whether that void is described as not doing a certain activity or choosing not to eat something, let it be something that you can use to connect with Him.  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Choose ~ First of all, you must decide what you will "give up" that falls under the parameters of "important, but won't make you moan and groan".  You are not doing it for others' benefit, but your's.
2. Pray ~ Whether or not it is that difficult, pray that you will be able to use this discipline for the purpose it was intended.  You will probably be a bit distracted throughout the time because you will be drawn to the thing you have given up, but use the times you are thinking about it to pray, as one option.
3. Encourage ~ Do you know of someone else that is participating in this discipline?  Take time to pray and encourage them as the go through the journey (even if you aren't participating).
4. Brainstorm ~ Think of alternatives from this discipline.  What can you do instead?
5. Don't give up ~ Sounds a bit like the opposite of the intent, but the point is that even if you mess up (hopefully accidentally) to keep up with it.  Don't quit the discipline even if you may make the occasional mistake.

Here are some options besides food to give up:

• Cell phone Usage - Certain time of day to turn off, unless emergency
• Profanity, Complaining, Gossiping - Watch your tongue - the little thing can do lots of damage!
• Internet Usage - Certain time of day to do something else or stay away from game sites (or worse)
• Television usage - Turn off either certain hours or days/nights so you can do something else

Maybe you can think of others. If so, please leave a comment with your idea.  I am looking forward to the journey to see what happens as I journey through this discipline.


You can also leave comments throughout the month to see how things are going as you journey through the next few weeks of this discipline.





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