Connection Makes All The Difference

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/Ue3mO4OYQ_0?si=VGwL0ezGvS6r28N8

“Connection Makes All The Difference”

Genesis 2:18 NIV- The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

 

This past week, I was driving one of our cars around and I thought I had the A/C turned on.  As I continued driving, all I felt was stale air blowing from the vents.  I looked down and noticed the A/C button was NOT lit up.  I thought all was ok when the air started blowing, because it usually takes a few seconds and the cool air comes right out.  Nope!  Not gonna happen when you don’t have the button pushed! 

 

The stale air in a car does not feel good at all.  It’s uncomfortable and you don’t want to be in it long because it makes you feel gross after a short period of time. 

 

As I got to thinking about how I simply had to push the button to connect with the car’s A/C system, it made me reflect on how important it is for our lives to be connected to others.  So often in our daily routines, we are running from one thing to the next and we are spinning our wheels, not even realizing we are not stopping to connect and recharge by associating with others in a genuine way.

 

God created us to connect with one another.  When we connect with each other and bond, it’s a refreshing feeling, just like making sure we are connected to the A/C system in the car.  When we aren’t connected well to others, we’re just going through our daily motions and not putting in the effort or trying to initiate connections with other people.  Life becomes stale when we don’t connect.

 

I find when I’m not connecting to my wife, the air becomes stale in our marriage.  When I’m not connecting with my kids, the air becomes stale in my relationship building with them.  When I’m not connecting with my friends, the air becomes stale in those relationships.  Anytime we are not connecting with others, as God intended for us to do, it’s just stale air and it gets weird and feels “off”. 

 

As we go through our daily lives, let’s not get so much into a routine that we forget to genuinely connect with others we love and care about.  We don’t want to continue this cycle and live in the stale air.  We want to be refreshed by connecting with people we care about and love. 

 

Connection with others makes all the difference.  God created us to connect, not to live in stale air.  We were meant to connect with others.  Adam didn’t stay alone for long and neither should we.  Not long after God created Adam, God made a helper so that Adam wouldn’t be alone.  If it was important to God that Adam not be alone in the beginning, it means just as much today still that we need connected with others on a regular basis. 

Solitude, Silence & Stillness

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/uB28N9pvQ7w?si=uWV4NwdaCP3kqZXb

“Solitude, Silence & Stillness”

 

I just recently finished reading a book by a Christian author and he mentions multiple times how he has practiced times of solitude before God while also being silent and listening.  As I kept reading the book, I became convicted that this was something I haven’t done much in my own personal faith journey through the years.  I’ve tried being quiet off and on through the years, depending on what situation I’m going through, but never a consistent habit. 

 

This past week, it really hit me hard as I finished the book and I determined that I was going to begin each day with my usual quiet devotional time.  Right after I read in the morning, I’ve decided I will sit and do nothing for at least 5 minutes.  I kept thinking of writing this devotional and using the title “Solitude & Silence”, but then it hit me just the other day that I needed something more.  Not just solitude and silence, but I also needed stillness. 

 

I have ADHD, so it’s very hard for me to sit down and sit still for a long period of time. Within a few minutes, my mind is usually thinking of something I need to do or a variety of other thoughts suddenly flood my mind.  This drives my wife and youngest daughter nuts when I’m home at night and on the weekends.  I tend to “busy” myself with tasks that need done, but I don’t sit down and rest long enough to really quiet myself. 

 

I was convicted this past week to begin my day with solitude, silence and complete stillness by sitting there and trying to clear my mind.  No additional reading, no praying, no nothing.  Just being in the quiet and trying to clear my mind so I can listen.  I also want to increase the amount of time as I feel led.  I want to encourage all of us to make this a daily practice and habit.  It will take time.  I know it will for me definitely!  But I am excited to add this spiritual discipline to my life. 

 

My goal is to be a better listener to what God wants to show me in my life.  By being in complete silence, I hope to better quiet my mind, heart and soul and just be in God’s presence.  I want to listen and allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through me. 

 

This is a tough practice and habit to take on, but I truly believe it will help draw myself and all of us much closer to God. 

 

One last way I would encourage you to be in silence is to go take a walk somewhere in nature.  I have found that when I have the opportunity to go walk, away from the noise of the every day routine, it’s amazing how you can quiet your mind, heart and soul and just take in the very presence of God.

 

Solitude, Silence & Stillness—Start with at least 5 minutes a day and see what God does!