Have you ever felt out of touch with everything? I Have. I recently forgot my phone at home when I went to a dentist’s appointment, and it felt like I was cut off from the world. I kept thinking, what if someone needed to contact me? Ultimately it didn’t matter, but it got me thinking, do I feel like that when I haven’t connected with God? The honest answer is NO; I don’t. Not all the time, anyway. That day when I didn’t have my phone, I walked home from the dentist’s office with no music, no podcast, nothing, just me and my thoughts. As I was getting my steps in, I felt relieved not having to constantly look at my phone every time it vibrated. I was free, at least for a little while, to take in the beautiful world God created for us. That time also allowed me time to listen. I heard cars zooming by, birds chirping, and dogs barking from behind screen doors. It was a nice relaxing walk, and I realized I hadn’t thanked God enough for where I am today. I wasn’t connecting with God as I should; yes, I prayed daily, but I wasn’t spending real time in His presence, Unlike before.

“Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” -Psalm 86:11-

As a teenager, I kind of knew what I wanted for my life: a wife, kids, a car, and a house, preferably with a white picket fence. It’s what I saw on TV, and I really wanted those things. I knew of God then but didn’t really know him at all. In the oncoming years, I was blessed to have all these things minus the white picket fence( Which I’m not crying about…. anymore). Back in the day, long before I met my wife, I knew I wanted to work hard to make these dreams become a reality. I had dreams of making dreams come true if that makes any sense, but I didn’t start by asking God what I should do. Most of my decisions were made that way, and to say that, most times, I came out on the wrong side of it would be an understatement. I was truly foolish, expecting a blessing yet not going to the blesser to learn how to use that blessing when it was given to me. I had examples of God’s faithfulness right before my eyes for years and still couldn’t grasp what it meant. My mother the most prayingest (not a word) woman I know would always tell me how her spending time with the Lord was helping her to forge on. She was and is constantly at the altar to receive God’s word, learning the ways of the Lord.

“It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.” -Exodus 33:7-

In all honesty, I don’t always go to God first with my issues. First, I think of how I can accomplish or overcome what I’m dealing with. Once I fail a few times, then I go and talk to God about it. That is completely backward and truly keeps me out of touch with how powerful and faithful God really is. Time and time again, I have seen God move in people’s lives. Turning tragedy to triumph, and here I am thinking I know better than my Lord and savior. That’s how I know when I’m out of touch, so I need to pitch my tent and meet with God on a daily basis whether I’m dealing with something or not. Staying connected to the source of all life is a life changer. I say this now, but I know going to him first is going to be a fight; going into battle for myself is how I was brought up. Unlearning life-long habits is hard, but when we get filled with the Holy Spirit, we are able to move in ways we never thought possible. Moses was scared to go back to Egypt when God told him to do so, Because of his speech impediment. ‘I am not a man of words … for I am of slow speech, and of a slow tongue’, Moses states, and later he pleads ‘… I am of uncircumsized lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me’ -Exodus 4:10-14- After spending some time in God’s presence Moses was given all he needed to complete the task he was called to. The God of the Holy Bible has not and will not change, so if we go to the altar, God will give us all we need according to his will.

Thank you for spending a little time to read this blog, I truly appreciate you. I pray that you were encouraged in some way by what you read. Spending time with the Lord and being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential for our struggles to become more bearable. Draw closer to God and he’ll draw closer to you. Tap in and you’ll be amazed. God bless, and don’t forget to keep “Chasing God’s Way/ve.”