Hey blog readers! Okay, so I am going to first update everyone on my current amazing life. I did it. I moved home. I am living in Knoxville, Tennessee again. I always said "Never again" but just like Justin Bieber says, "Never say never." I had been confused about where I was supposed to go and the Lord gently let me know it was okay to go home. So here I am!! God made a perfect way for me. I found the perfect subletter who happened to be a strong man who helped me load up my uhaul, and he did it with a total positive attitude the whole time. He wanted to help. I drove a Uhaul with my car attached to the back about 20 hours back to Knoxville. I had an apartment complex chosen that I loved and prayed that something would be open. I kept calling and someone answered the phone. Finally. She said that someone had just canceled their move in and that it was their only open apartment and I could move in the next day. HELLO GOD! I don't believe in coincidence, especially when too many happen, but I do believe in God. I am all cozy in my perfect apartment and can't wait to spend many mornings and days in the presence of our Lord thanking Him for all his goodness.
Okay, so several people have let me know over the past month that they admire my relationship with our Lord and I want to help you guys get there. First of all, I want to say that I personally am still striving to be as close to him as possible and will be my entire life. He is just that amazing. You want to hear his voice and get to a place of peace in your life, even when everything sucks? Ok. Good. Keep reading.
1. Spend time with Him. This seems really simple but it's not. The devil doesn't want you to get close to God. There will be a million distractions. Shut yourself off from the world and really spend time with Him. Devotionals are great but 5 minutes a day is not going to bring you to a closer walk with God. Any relationship takes quality time to develop into a strong relationship. If you only spent five minutes a day with your boyfriend, would that be a relationship? NO. And the same things goes for God.
2. Turn off your phone. Get alone. Go to the woods. Do whatever you have to do to not get distracted. I love facebook and instagram. But even I sometimes find myself looking at them, when five minutes ago I was reading my Bible and spending time with God. Stay focused.
3. Worship Him. Put on some music that will invite the Holy Spirit into the room. Personally, I love Bethel music. Sing your heart out to God and really means the words you are saying. Close your eyes and let him speak to you.
4. Get out a pen and paper. Ask God what he sees in you. Start writing what comes in your head. You will be able to pursue a relationship with the Lord more efficiently if you know what he sees in you. I know in previous relationships with people, if I know that they love me and the things they love about me, I want to be with those people and spend time with them. I have gotten in the habit of writing and asking things from the Lord and have many wonderful words from God written down in my journal. These are always nice to look through when you are having a rough day and will remind you that God is with you and never leaves you.
5. Obey Him. Are there hidden 'sins' in your life? Do you do things in secret that you think no one will see? Well God sees and knows all. He knows the condition of your heart and sin separates us from Him. So take a deep look inside and make sure you are doing everything you can to obey his commandments. If I ever feel far away from God, I always bring myself to a place of humbleness and ask God if there is anything that is keeping me from being close to God.
6. Serve others. I never feel closer to God than when I am being a servant. Get involved in your church outreach program. Or be a youth volunteer. Or find some clothes to donate. Or encourage someone. Do it for the right reasons and watch how much God's spirit flows in you when you are putting other people before yourself. Why are you so happy when volunteering? Because Jesus himself was a servant and you are more like Him when serving.
7. Watch your relationships with the opposite sex. I am a daughter of God. And I am head over heels in love with Jesus. I will not date a man or spend time with a man who does not love Jesus too. Going to church doesn't count. Yes, he should go to church but there are a lot of people who go to church who do not have a personal relationship with God. I want a man who leads me and he can't do that very well if he doesn't know where he is leading me. Sure, he can lead you to a bar or sex or an inappropriate conversation but find a man who will lead you to a deeper relationship with God. That's the kind of man I want be the father of my children someday. And you should too. Anyone who isn't leading you to God is leading you away. Pursue God and he will send you the right man.
8. Open your eyes. Take a walk. Open your ears. God is everywhere. There is not one place you can go that he is not there. He speaks in more than one way. Nature is often a way the Lord speaks to my heart but can also in a persons confirming word or in the Bible when scripture seems to be the exact thing I needed to read that day. Look for Him. And then don't be quick to take what he is trying to tell you for granted. Receive it.
I hope these tips help you get to a deeper walk with our Lord. Press into Him. Let Him be the love of your life. Worship and praise Him for everything he has done in your life.Can't wait to hear the stories of how God is moving in your lives!
