As we saw last week, being connected to God isn’t based on our works. We don’t need to jump through religious hoops to be near to God—but there are ways we can help stay connected. He has given us this connection already through Christ; we are called to remain connected.

So how do we stay connected?

There are the obvious answers like: 

• prayer
• talking and listening to God
• reading your Bible

—after all, in the same way you spend time with someone to get to know them, spending time with God will help us know Him deeper. And knowing Him deeper leads to a full life, a connection to the source of what we need.

But there is another very important question that will help understand your connection to God:

How am I uniquely designed to connect with God?

Along with the spiritual disciplines listed above, other things that will help you stay connected are your:

• gifts
• passions

These are things that God has planted inside your spirit to ignite a part of you that will draw you into deeper connection with Him. God implanted a spirit of skill in many of the Israelites to do His work. He has similarly placed skills and passions and hopes inside you for your fulfillment and His glory.

How you connect with God will be unique from every other person, and He made it that way. Ask yourself questions like, What gets me fired up? What do I love? What am I passionate about? What am I good at? Begin to ask God these questions. Learn about how He has designed you and invite Him to come alongside you in these passions and talents of yours so that you can begin to grow in Him and ultimately make a difference for His kingdom.

9:46 am  •  5 July 2012