{"id":6034,"date":"2020-10-23T01:52:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T16:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/old2024.onfire.jp\/?p=6034"},"modified":"2020-10-23T08:46:40","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T23:46:40","slug":"day-53","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old2024.onfire.jp\/en\/pureheartchallenge\/day-53\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 53"},"content":{"rendered":"

Personal Challenge #15: Living as One Connected to Him (Part 1)<\/h1>

Learning to live CONNECTED to Him. Abiding. Quenching our thirst from His water. Finding rest in Him alone.<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>

Connecting is more than just reading a devotional or even just reading the Bible.<\/p>

Connecting is knowing that you have met with God and He has met with you. Connecting is vital. Connecting leads to having a steadfast heart. Remain in Him. Do not disconnect, even for a moment. Stay in Him.<\/p>

\u201cCome, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.”
Isaiah 55:1-3<\/em><\/p>

\u201cNow go and sin no more.\u201d
John 8:11<\/em><\/p>

IF WE ARE NOT THIRSTY, WE WON\u2019T SIN.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:9-11<\/em><\/p>

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 1 John 2:28<\/em><\/p>

We are knowing Him now, daily, and when we see Him face-to-face, we will know Him even more fully! When we see Him face-to-face, He will not be a stranger to us, He will know us and we will know Him.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>

Journal Entry, Age 33
I want to abide. Help me to keep in step with you. I need to come and buy oil everyday. To fill up my oil lamp. It\u2019s foolish to not. It\u2019s foolish to run on empty. The oil of intimacy. The oil of relationship. (Matthew 25:1-13)
I want to hungrily drink from Him each day. Eat of His word, drink of His water so my soul is refreshed. I need Him, I want to know Him, my soul finds rest in Him alone. I want to model a life of continuously having oil for my lamp.<\/strong><\/p>

Mornings with Him.<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>

Journal Entry, Age 33
I need Your love each morning!<\/strong><\/p>

I don\u2019t spend time with God because I have to, out of religious obligation, but because I need to. I need to be renewed, reminded, refreshed in His love every morning, for the health of my heart. <\/p>

It’s not about ‘getting the quiet time in each day\u2019. It’s not about \u2018my quiet time isn’t religious. If I’m busy for a while, God gets it, He’ll be fine\u2019. It’s about meeting with Him. It’s about not neglecting the secret place.<\/p>

\nPersonal Challenge: Time with Jesus
\nDon’t leave until you know you’ve met with Him. Meet with him each day. I want to hear His words before other words in the morning (Isaiah 55). I know I wake up and go to my phone for physical connection… But I want to connect with HIM. Set time for Him. You will know the difference of if you\u2019ve connected with Him or if you just \u2018went through the motions\u2019. You will know it by seeing if your heart is steadfast or not. You will know it by seeing if you are \u2018thirsty\u2019 or not. Give Him everything that hits you heart. Give Him all areas that you feel thirsty in, and allow Him, in His perfect way, to fill those places. \n<\/strong> <\/p>

Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8<\/em><\/p>

\u201cLet the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life\u201d
Psalm 143:8<\/em><\/p>

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
Psalm 5:3<\/em><\/p>

But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16<\/em><\/p>

It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
Psalm 92:1-2<\/em><\/p>

Tips:
Make a set time with the Lord for 30-60 mins each day in the morning and try to keep to it as much as possible, as much as you would with a friend. Don\u2019t compartmentalize (weekends are for me, weekdays are for Him; Sundays are for Him, the other 6 days are for me).<\/strong><\/p>

Journal Entry, Age 33
I don\u2019t want to do anything that I feel I need to exclude You from. I want to do everything with You. If I\u2019m doing something I feel I couldn\u2019t do with You, I don\u2019t want to do it! If I feel like You wouldn\u2019t be into the show I\u2019m watching, I don\u2019t want to watch it! I don\u2019t want a moment without that connection from You, Jesus. I don\u2019t want to disconnect from the vine.<\/strong><\/p>

The Power of Sharing<\/strong><\/h3>

If you find yourself unable to connect with Him\u2026 Don\u2019t go another minute\u2026 Ask for prayer\u2026
One of the hardest times for me to connect with God has been when I am experiencing difficult or negative emotions. In my life, I often dealt with those emotions through trying to escape them\u2026 distract myself from them, stuff them beneath some kind of comfort, etc. I have learned escape doesn’t pay off, and instead, if I’m struggling with connecting with God in the midst, I ask to pray with a friend. Even in the presence of a friend, if I pray to God myself, it is so powerful.<\/p>

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