We were not created to do this life alone. God desires to have a relationship with you.
Christian Living
Faith
Encouragement
Relationships
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Thriving, week one, day two, the beans or the background. As Jesus begins to gain popularity, he shares a sermon known as the Sermon on the Mountain. It's called that because he gives it on a mountain, real creative, I know. But basically, in this sermon, he shares a ton of information about life and how to let God actually be the Lord of your life. The verse, Matthew chapter seven, verses seven and eight, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks the door will be opened. The fill. What's the point? We were not created to do this life alone. We are literally designed to yearn for relationships. It's why we want to feel loved and accepted and appreciated and are hurt when we don't feel those things. And here's the reason God designed us this way, because not only does he want to bless your life with some pretty awesome people in it, but because of his intense desire for your heart, he also wants you to crave him. So ask. I'm going to say this again, because trust me, friend, we need reminding. God wants to know you. God wants you to know him. God desires to have a relationship with you. You are that important to him. And the way that you do that, the way that you build a relationship with him or anyone for that matter, is through conversation. He wants to hear from you. He wants to hear those big questions you have about how all this faith stuff actually works. He wants to hear about the hurt and the pain you're carrying around. He wants to help you navigate those big life decisions and the small ones too, for that matter. Because the thing is, the more you know about him, the deeper of a connection that you feel to him and the bigger influence he becomes in your life. Now when it comes to conversations with God, we've got to talk and we've got to listen. Listening is often the hard part, leading us to seek. Listening is how we hear God. When we learn about him, we begin to have moments of clarity where we just know what he's saying. There are many different ways to learn about him. Listening to sermons, conversations with trusted friends who you know to be faithful people, reading his word, reading Bible studies and other devotional material. The more we study him, the more easily we'll be able to discern his voice and see him at work in our daily lives. Knock. If you knock on someone's door, it means you're seeking connection and inclusion. Remember, God created us with the desire for relationships, both with him and other people. And just to clarify, you absolutely can be friends with Christians and non-Christians. Just look at Jesus's example. But when you find a friend or two who are also on a journey with God, it allows you to hear God in yet another beautiful way. When we are so deep into our struggles, we often can't see things clearly because we're blinded by our problem. This is where God can use those special friendships to speak to you and comfort you. Faith friends are a specific and special tribe that will spur you on and give you encouragement that you need on hard days, and they're the ones that will be there to rock out in celebration with you on the good days. Esteem. What does this mean to me and how can I apply it to my life today? Here is where I wish more than anything I could sit across the table from you with a cup of coffee or wine in hand and just listen. I want to know your story. Maybe this faith thing is new to you and you have a ton of questions, but can't deny this curiosity growing in your heart and mind. Ask, girlfriend, ask. Ask Jesus those tough questions you have about creation and the Bible or about how he views you, and certainly feel free to ask me or other members of the field. Maybe you've been a person of faith at one point in your life, but you're so bogged down with the pressures of everyday life that getting any time for yourself, well, it just takes a backseat. Maybe you feel on fire for Jesus and you are searching for more and more, soaking up as much as you possibly can about him in your day. Girlfriend, yes, rock on. I love hearing how Jesus is showing up and shaking people's hearts and minds in awesome ways. But regardless, can I give you some advice, friend? If you identify as a newbie, a middle of the road or super Jesus freak Christian, can I encourage you to do one thing today? Find a community of others on this journey of faith to be your tribe. If you have a tribe, think about creating a private group here in the Phil app. You can do studies together as a form of accountability or use the page as a safe place to ask tough questions and share all of life's moments. Either way, God can and will speak to you and help you through the wonderful tribe he will bless you with.
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