Spiritual Renewal: 5 Fresh Ways to Connect With God
A rumble of thunder pulled us from sleep, and we spent the morning in stillness while God washed the world with warm, summer rain. The thin pages of his Word rustled in the breeze while the rain crackled like fire licking up dry grass. Something about a slow morning felt like an invitation to encounter God for spiritual renewal.
Summer tends to be a full season for our family.
The kids are home from school. Days fly by quickly. My time with the Lord is often short and almost always interrupted.
Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you want to connect with God, but you’re pulled in so many directions that finding time is difficult.
How to Pursue God for Spiritual Renewal
Years ago, a mentor challenged me with this question: “Are the ways you’re seeking God leading you to life-giving encounters with him.”
When I admitted that all my methods for pursuing God weren’t life-giving, she challenged me to incorporate life-giving activities into my regular routine. I also discovered these five strategies to help me encounter God through the spiritual disciplines I pursue.
I pray these ideas will bless you and lead you straight to the heart of the Father.
Are the ways you're seeking God leading you to life-giving encounters with him? If not, read here for five ideas. #seekingGod #pursuingGod #QuietTime Share on XSeeking God for Spiritual Renewal
1. Pursue God by entering into the Scripture as if you were there.
In her book Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton offers an example of how to enter into God’s Word in an interactive way. Her encouragement is simple: Imagine you are the blind beggar along the road, the paralytic by the pool, the bleeding woman, or an onlooker in some Bible passage.
Imagine the scene.
Take it a step further and do some research on what sights, sounds, and smells might have been present at the moment.
Allow yourself to step inside the story as you read.
You will most likely find yourself asking questions that lead to further research. You might even encounter Christ himself through this experience of sanctified imagination.
2. Pursue prayer as a two-way conversation.
It’s easy to run through our list of prayer requests without quieting ourselves to listen for the impressions God wants to put on our hearts.
When you pray, discipline yourself to sit in silence as much as you talk.
Remain attentive to any Scripture God puts on your heart.
Test the impressions against the Word of God, common sense, and with other experienced believers, but remember that God longs for a relationship. Allow him to speak into your quiet time as much as you speak into it.
3. Release and receive.
I often ask Jesus if he wants me to release anything to him. This question mirrors David’s prayer, “Search my heart, and show me if there is any offensive way within me.”
God often gives me a gentle reminder to release control over some part of my life. He might nudge me to release my grip on a certain situation, release my children, or release my expectations.
Ask God what he wants you to release and ask what he wants you to receive in return. You might be surprised as you recognize patterns that are strongholds in your life.
4. Pursue spiritual renewal by adopting physical postures during prayer.
When I struggle to focus during prayer (which is often), adopting physical postures is a helpful method.
You might begin your prayer time with open arms in a posture of surrender to the Lord.
Continue by giving thanks with raised hands.
Confess with open palms.
Release cares with outspread arms, and receive with open hands.
While this is uncomfortable for most of us, it is very useful in promoting focus and posturing our hearts in humility to receive from God.
In addition to prayer postures, praying through the names of God or prayer steps can be a helpful tool. Pastor Richard LaFountain offers a wealth of insight on praying through various steps and prayer postures on his Prayer Today website.
5. Prioritize silence and solitude as you seek spiritual renewal.
Simply resting in the awareness that we are loved by God is a powerful and revitalizing activity.
At the end of each day, I still my soul to rest in the awareness of God’s love. Like sitting with a trusted friend, this is a refreshing way to encounter him. I often fall asleep imagining his arms holding me.
A Final Reminder
Some days, you will be distracted in your quiet time.
Don’t give up.
I’m learning to see every distracted moment as a new opportunity to return my gaze to Jesus.
One thousand distractions lead me to turn to Jesus one thousand times. He is not condemning us. He is waiting with open arms.
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Calling all moms and daughters!
Additionally, my teen daughter, Bekah, and I are passionate about helping moms and daughters grow closer while connecting with God. We have written two mother-daughter devotionals together. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section after each devotion.
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