Are You in Sync with God?

My wife recently gave me an iPad as a gift. (Thank you again Janice!) I’ve been using it pretty much every day and found that it’s been enjoyable to use and it also increase my productivity.

About two times each week I find that I need to sync the iPad with my Macbook Pro laptop so that my calendars, contacts and downloaded applications are in sync with each other. Being consistent with this process of syncing my iPhone with my laptop is pretty important or otherwise the right information will not be in both devices.

In the same vein, it’s important that we be in sync with God on a regular basis. Going to church one day a week will not keep us in sync. The best way to do this is by spending time with him daily and especially by reading the Bible. It’s the Bible that helps us understand who God is and what his Son has done for us. We get to know God best by reading about him and spending time reflecting or meditating on the scriptures.

One of the Spiritual Exercises that I have identified for living and abundant life is Abide in Jesus.  Jesus tells us in John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

When I abide in Jesus by reading his Word and by praying and meditating on the scripture found in his Word it helps me to stay in step with him… in sync with him, if you will.

When I am in sync with God, life goes better for me… and I imagine life goes better with you too.

Questions to Reflect and Comment On:

How do you stay in sync with God?  How frequently do you engage in this behavior?

Related Resources:

Article – An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises

Blog Post – Walking with God, Running with Nikes

Blog Post – Spiritual Exercises and Physical Activity Principles

Chilean Miner Conducts Bible Study Underground – Connecting With Jesus During Trials

Jose Henriquez - Bible Study Leader

Jose Henriquez, in the photo to the right, was the 24th miner rescued from the Chilean mine on October 13th. His faith was apparently very important to him as he asked friends to gather and send 33 small Bibles down through a supply shaft.  This enabled him to lead a Bible study for the other trapped miners during the balance of their 70 day stint underground.  According to news articles, Chilean officials also assigned psychologists and a personal trainer by video conference to tend to the 33 miners that were rescued.

But Henriquez clearly recognized the importance of staying connected to God during this difficult ordeal and I suspect that he already had a personal practice of reading his Bible and connecting with Jesus.  He knew that in addition to receiving food and water for physical strength that he and the other miners needed food for their souls as well, and that reading from the Word of God would provide this essential spiritual nourishment.  The Psalmist says in Psalm 63:5, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” Jesus can meet the deeper needs of the heart and soul – the kinds of needs that these men must have had when they were a 1/2 mile underground and separated from their loved ones for over two months.

Jesus reminds us of the importance of staying closely connected to him:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The Bible study led by one faithful miner and the 33 Bibles helped all the men connect more solidly with God during this difficult trial. Praise God that the strong faith of this trapped miner in the Chilean disaster influenced him to ask for Bibles so that God’s truths could help provide hope for and sustain the entire group of miners.

Questions to Reflect On:

When was the last time you experienced a very, very difficult trial and how did you handle it?

When your soul needs to be nourished, how do you feed it?

Related Resources:

Blog Post – Food, Nourishment and God’s Will

Other pages and posts About Abiding in Christ

Power and Strength by Grace Through Intimacy with God

The grace of God gives us strength and the corresponding ability to do the things we otherwise could not do.  This happens as a result of being in an intimate relationship with God, through his Son Jesus and experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The more intimate we are with God, the more time we spend quietly with him, and the more we yield to him and depend upon him the more empowered we become.

Power from God does not come by way of religious-type activity and service.  It comes as a direct result of abiding in God’s presence and being connected to him in a very real and meaningful way.  Jesus tell us this when he says -

“Remain in me and I will remain in you…. apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Jesus gives us a great example of how he received power from his Father, God.  Shortly before his death on the cross, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was sorrowful and full of grief-filled emotions as he prepared to do the will of God by dying on the cross for our sins. The “man” in him did not want to die. What did he do? Jesus went away to be alone with God…. to be in earnest prayer with him one-on-one.  When he finished his prayer time with  God, Jesus was prepared, equipped with the strength he needed to be able to die for you and me. Matthew 26:36-46

The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus prayed to his Father that just as he and God were one, that we all would “be in them.” John 17:20-21 This serves as a reminder that God desires us to remain as close as possible to him. He knows that for us to be able to do his perfect will, we need to maintain an intimate relationship with him.

‘Abide in God’s Presence’ is one Spiritual Exercise that is conducive to a healthy life.  The more we are in God’s presence, the more power the Holy Spirit gives us to make healthy choices and to change our behavior. We are able to do things that we otherwise might not be able to do.

Questions to Reflect On:

How close to Jesus are you?

How much time do you spend in prayer with God on a daily basis?

How much time each week do you spend reading the Bible and meditating on what you’ve read?

Scriptures Related to Intimacy:

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”  James 4:8

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

Helpful Resources

Article – It’s About the Relationship

Blog Posts About Strength

Booklet – Experiencing Intimacy With God, RBC Publications

Website Page – Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life