Isn’t it incredible knowing that God is with us everywhere we go? I didn’t grasp this concept until my sophomore year of college when my relationship with Christ grew more than ever before.
The more I started getting in His Word, the more I began to notice Him around me in everyday life. It was such an incredible time in my life because God would prove Himself to me every single day. I realized that God was always there, yet, there were countless distractions that made me inattentive to His presence in my life.
If you’re one who has never really heard from God, I encourage you to get in the Word every single day. Once you do this, you will learn exactly what God thinks about you, the truth of His word, and, as a result, you will start to develop a deeper relationship with Him. When you reach this point, you end up seeing God in all things.
If you want to develop a deeper connection with the Lord, here are some ideas that I strongly encourage you to pursue.
Get in His Word daily.
Hearing from God comes from developing a deeper relationship with Him – this all starts with knowing who He really is, which directly comes from the Bible. The way you mature a relationship with, let’s say, a friend, is the same way you must develop a richer relationship with God; this includes familiarizing yourself with Him: reading the Bible, talking to Him more often, trusting in Him, etc.
Go to church.
Church is a vital part in evolving your relationship with God. Not only are you hearing His word in the form of a message (bible verses are broken down and better simplified for our understanding), but you’re also serving the Lord in communion with other Christians. Communion with other Christians is so important because it helps us to see God’s goodness in other people.
If you’re in Gainesville, check out Greenhouse Church at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday nights! The church service is on campus and provides a relatable message to the average college student. I promise you will not regret going!
Watch a sermon online.
During my sophomore year of college, I started watching a sermon every day before my track practice. I went into practice with a sense of calmness and confidence, which solely came from the Lord! Not to mention, I ended up having my breakout season that year because I was filled with the Lord and my relationship with Him was incredibly profound.
If you cannot attend church or feel uncomfortable right now going to a new church, watch a sermon online! There are thousands of preachers around the country who share their sermon online. I prefer Joyce Meyer’s sermons, which can all be found on YouTube, or past sermons from Greenhouse Church!
Listen to Christian music during your down-time.
If you’re more on the artistic, musically-gifted side of things (or just love music in general), then you’ll definitely want to include this in your daily life! Music has a way of touching people’s hearts in a way that words cannot. If there’s one genre of music that keeps getting better it’s Christian music.
Surround yourself with good people.
It’s so easy to veer off the right path simply because of the people you associate yourself with. I’m not saying you should cut people out of your life, but what I am saying is to fill yourself with people who are Christians, people that lift you up and encourage you to be a better person. The unique thing about this is that you will start to see the Holy Spirit in other people and, thus, recognize His goodness if real life.
Open your eyes!
This might be one of the most important facets in developing a deeper connection with the Lord and seeing Him in your everyday life. What do I mean by “open your eyes?”
To illustrate, one day I was absurdly worried about something that is now insignificant, and I happened to look up at the sky. I saw a flock of birds which reminded me of this bible verse: “Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns – and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Right then and there I knew that was God speaking to me, telling me not to worry.
Think simply; live vulnerably; have child-like faith; and open your eyes. I promise if you do these things, you will see the Lord all around you.
