Last week I posted three questions to help you get back on track when you’re not feeling close to God. Here are four more questions.
1. Do you know that God loves you?
I never knew how much God loved me until I started praying through the insecurity Bible verses on my app. As I pictured Him doing the things He said He’d do in those verses, I finally realized how much He loves me.
If you’d like to give this a try, here’s a link to those verses: Insecurity Bible verses. If you have questions about your relationship with God, I’d love to visit with you. You can contact me at my e-mail under the About section of this blog.
2. Are you going to God with your own agenda, or are you going to God for His agenda?
In the first scenario, we want Him to answer our prayers. We feel close to Him as long as He does what we want. If He doesn’t, we wonder why He hasn’t answered. Sometimes we begin to resent Him for not answering. We may even begin to doubt Him.
We may doubt His love for us, His ability to answer prayer, and if worse comes to worse, we may even doubt His existence because surely – if He were there – He would do what we ask. Of course, that’s a lie, but it’s the logical conclusion of believing that God has to do what we want Him to do.
In the second scenario, we also want Him to answer our prayers. But even more, we want His will. We’re willing to look at a different outcome to our prayer. We want to see the situation from His perspective. To get His take on it so we know how to handle it.
This back and forth conversation drives us to His Word to see what the Bible says about our situation. It brings us closer to God as we wrestle through our issues with Him, and it also results in maturity.
3. Are you spending enough time with Him?
It takes time to go to God for help with problems. It takes time to get the help we need to break free from our strongholds. And it takes time to develop the type of relationship where we feel consistently close to Him.
I always wanted that type of relationship, but for years I couldn’t make myself take the time. If you’re in that position, read the 2nd question in last week’s post for ideas on how to get out of it.
4. Is there anything you need to accept?
Do you ever feel like God has let you down? Like you’ve done everything He wanted you to do, and He still hasn’t answered your prayer?
If anyone had a right to feel that way it was Jesus in Gethsemane. Yet instead of resenting His Father, He said, “Not my will, but Yours.”
If you live in a culture that’s all about fairness, it’s easy to start applying that concept to your walk with God. If you do what He wants, then He should do what you want.
This isn’t biblical, nor is it practical. He’s the King of the Universe. Wouldn’t we rather have Him be the one in control?
The truth is, the more we submit to God, the closer we’ll be to Him. He is worth every sacrifice–because there’s nothing better than a close walk with God.
Question: Can you think of any other questions to add to the list?
Been there and done all three at different times. Lately, I have to ask myself: Did you really let go or are you still hanging on to that concern or person you can’t control?
Wow, that is so good, Karen. It seems like I have to let go over and over again until I finally develop a habit of living “let go.” That’s a great question to ask for a little check-up!
God recently hit me with this question, Karen. I thought I had turned a situation over to Him, but I had really just refocused my “control” to a person instead of the situation. I couldn’t believe I’d done that, but when we truly seek God, He will show us areas we are holding onto.
That’s a great question, thanks for sharing. I needed this reminder.
Hmm, seeking to control a person rather than the situation – yes, I’ve been there.
It was a huge revelation. I couldn’t believe I was doing that. It was liberating to let go. Made my day better.
That’s great.
Great post Barb. I had to check my prayers. I found myself trying to pray to get God to bend to what I wanted. My prayer life had gotten stagnant because I was not seeking His directions. And when He gave me His directions, I would try to pray to convince Him there had to be another way. It didn’t work. I have refocused my prayers to His agenda and I am experiencing a greater sense of the presence of His glory. My question: Are you allowing His presence to invade your presence?
Oh, I love, love, love that question. And your example. I’ve never thought of it as trying to convince God there must be a better way, but of course that’s what I sometimes do – crazy when I think of who God is. Sometimes I like just soaking in His presence. Not saying anything or even really thinking anything – just soaking.
Great question, Bernard! Very thought provoking.
I think this sentence sums up so much of our Christian culture today, ” If you do what He wants, then He should do what you want.”
Shame on us for seeking God’s hand and not His face!
I know I’m guilty of this. I have my agenda’s and I’m slow to letting go, but when I do I gain peace and joy…I gain God.
Wow, I never thought of it that way, TC – seeking God’s hand and not His face. That’s an eye-opening way to put it – makes me feel a little sick! I’ve experienced the same thing you do – when I let go, I gain peace and joy. It often surprises me because I often think I’ll be miserable if I don’t get what I want – not true. Whenever I submit to God with my heart as well as my actions, He always blesses me with enough peace and joy that I no longer care if I don’t get what I want!
Amen! I love it when I’m free from caring if I get what I want. Trusting that God knows best and has great things planned for me…why do I ever get in the way with my limited thinking?
Haha, because you’re crazy like me, I guess. :)
At least we are good company for each other :)
:)
I am truly enjoying accepting others where they are, I had never been able to before. I am loving God’s agenda- although I try to “take over” often! ugh!
I wish I could consistently spend more time with Him. I seem to do this in spurts. Spending either a lot of time with Him or having my attention get lost on something mindless, when I know I’m on the wrong track. Maybe I need a schedule? After I have work meetings I could kick myself that I didn’t think to pray through difficult conversations.
Saying all of that, I do need to remind myself how much He loves me, after all my fumblings my first thought is how much I fail Him. I’m going to try to think of something to tell myself to remind me!
(((HUGS)))
Those insecurity Bible verses really help remind me, Elizabeth. I’m glad you’re learning to accept others where they are. I used to think that if I stopped trying to change people I’d be miserable because then they would never change. It was a real eye-opener to me to recognize that – duh! – I can’t change people! It surprised me how freeing it was to give grace. I always have my quiet time first thing in the morning, but it’s easy for me to do that since I don’t have a million people in my house like you have, Elizabeth!
Some tough questions that really get at the root cause, Barb. Getting at the cause of something is SO important, especially if you really want to overcome and struggle to victory. Not feeling close to God is a topic that I think a lot of people struggle with, especially if they rely more on feelings than on knowing. Okay, so that’s probably most of us.
Thanks, Kari – yes, I agree, it’s important to get at the root of things!
Great questions Barb! These are great ones to keep in mind. I’m making it a point to make sure I spend time connecting with God and reading the Bible on a daily basis. When I do He renews my strength.
That’s great, Dan!
Often when I don’t feel close to God I have to remind myself that God’s closeness doesn’t depend on my feelings. In reality the question is not how close God is to me but how close I am to God. Sin will always drive us away from God but God never goes far, he’s always waiting for us to come back to him.
That’s one of the beautiful things about God, He’s always waiting for us to come back. My feelings function as an indicator to show when I’ve pulled away from Him and need to head back again.
I think starting with the idea of God’s love is so wise. That’s where we have to start. Not only the depths of his love, but the true grace aspect of his love. That’s the foundation it seems that everything else is built upon.
Yes, the depths and the true grace. I like that. We are blessed.