Talking to God like a friend– how can I?

In my previous post, I stated that God is approachable. You can come to God and be yourself. You can use every word available, and you need not be careful of expressing yourself in God’s presence.

How can we do this successfully? The question is like saying how can I be a good friend of God, or at least His “buddy”?

First, you need to try and know Him and His ways. You cannot be a good friend to anyone without knowing them.

The best way to understand God is through His words. Learn His words, and you would have known a good chunk of who God is.

Develop a new habit of talking to Him every time, especially using your mental faculty (mind), is a great thing.

Avoid distraction! We often focus on talking to people at the workplace and different places in our lives and usually give them undivided attention. Give God your heart and mind.

You can avoid distraction by turning distraction to your notepad. Yes, turn distraction to your notepad! Whenever you remember anything or something that tries to catch your attention, write it down while you are talking to God, but never leave the presence of God.

Don’t stop talking to God even if you are distracted. After a while, you would train your mind to focus when you are with God.

Lastly, even if you don’t know what to say, the bible says that the Spirit will help us pray. The Holy Spirit understands God and can communicate with Him clearly than we can. So, He will help our minds say things that our mouth cannot utter.

Sometimes, He will help you speak in different languages called “tongues”

In all, you will know God more when you talk to Him often like a friend.
Give it a try!

Talking to God Like a friend– there are levels

In my last posts, I made it clear that anyone can approach God. Anyone can talk to God at any time. You can use simple words and communicate your minds and feelings to Him.

God listens to every word, and you need not be careful to say what is on your mind when you go to pray.

Remember Hannah when she asked God for Samuel. She prayed passionately, expressing her thoughts and feelings. So, do not forget to tell it all when you pray.

However, there are levels to this approach. Different people approach God in different ways.

Some spend few minutes talking to God, and some spend hours and even days talking to God. God deals with individuals differently.

Moses spent days on the mountain talking to God one on one. Jesus often woke up early before others to pray, and Paul spent days praying, admonishing the believers to keep on praying.

The takeaway from this is that those who spend more time talking to God acquire depths of His understanding and His ways and must be respected and revered. The reason is that they represent God and are often His messengers.

Therefore, I believe it is foolishness to disrepute His messengers and shepherds.

If indeed they are called by God, they’re most likely operating at a different level than you are, and when you disregard them, you are simply saying that God, I disagree with what you are doing.

The way a one-year-old toddler communicates is different from the way a full-grown man does.

There are levels to talking to God.

Talking to God as a friend

God is not a mysterious being that you cannot approach neither is He hidden in a place that you cannot come near. 

God has appealed several times that we should talk to Him. Moses was so close to God that he “saw” the rear back of God. He talked to God directly.

The bible clearly says that “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

God is a Spirit which means He is everywhere because He is Omnipresent. Therefore, He can hear you whenever you call.

We miss a lot when we do not talk to Him about our needs and desires. We can talk to God about anything and everything because the bible says “make your request known unto God.”

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
 

You can use the same energy you use in whining and complaining to talk to God the same way you talk to a friend. He is near to hear you.

Peace–Evidence of right choices

When God created the world, He saw that He did the right thing. He saw that all He had made were good. He was happy.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

The evidence of peace is not the absence of problems or chaos, but it is an indication that you are moving in the right direction.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”


We make choices every day and every time.

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the LORD will soon arrive.

We do not need to experience Peace at every decision, but we need this indication especially when we make major decisions in our lives.

So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Sometimes, we just need to be at the right place at the right time. We do not need to make a decision for this to happen.

When you make the right choice, you can know. Watch out for the presence of inner peace. Yes, it is “inner peace” because it comes from within.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

If your heart and mind are troubled, then something is wrong with your choices and decisions.

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.
Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

Sometimes, you might need to pray about it to God.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

You also need to wait after praying because you cannot rush a decision after you have prayed.

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

At the end of the day and time, God might just drop something on your mind, and instantly, you will know that you are on the right track.

If you are on the wrong track, God may cause you to suddenly lose interest.


This is not holistic as God speaks to people differently, but Peace of mind is one of God’s methods of communicating His will to man.

Most of the time, it is in a still small voice.

Glory to God; Peace on Earth

Merry Christmas!
I pray that the good news shall fill your surroundings. The joy of the Lord shall dwell in your household.

A savior is Born!


Peace!
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

How to stop The Falling From Grace 4.0

Sometimes, one must maintain a consistent line of intercession over time. It is not to suggest that God did not hear you the first time, but it is a way of appealing the case before God just like you would before a judge. You must pray your way out of calamity.

Prayer- your saving grace

I emphasized that Prayer is not just about the usual talking to God or asking that we all do. I am talking about pleading or begging for a cause, not for a short time but a continual or consistent, intentional act that draws the grace of God to move in a given direction.

There are several examples of people in the Bible that demonstrate a consistent habit of pleading their case before God. Some of these people got what they wanted, some did not, yet they did not give up.

Cain killed his brother Abel. Afterward, he begged God to save his life. God agreed and put a mark on him for his protection. 

Abraham prayed to God concerning Isaac’s life. God agreed and made a provision. He pleaded with God to spear the life of his son, Isaac. God heard him.

Jacob prayed, asking for help as he journey through an unknown land. God appeared to Him.

Moses would spend time again and again pleading to God on behalf of the rebellious Israelites. Countless times Moses was able to avert the destruction of the Israelites.

Samson prayed one more time after his eyes plucked out of their sockets. God heard him, and he defeated and killed the enemies more than when he had his eyes intact.

Time would fail to enumerate people, who through prayers, saved nations and rescue the prey from the spoiler.

Jesus went on to pray all night before the crucifixion. He often spent time praying all night. Jesus asked the Father that if it’s possible, He averted the pain. Jesus was willing to sacrifice His life, and as such, He gave it all.

The bible encouraged us to pray without ceasing. While Peter was in prison, the followers refused doubt he would be released and kept praying for his freedom.

Paul said that he didn’t stop praying for the disciples every day.

Many of us will not get through this life without the help of continual prayers. 

Jesus, while on the throne, at the right hand, still pleads on our behalf.

Through the grace of God, we can maintain a daily victorious life if we do not stop seeking God and maintaining a committed relationship with Him.

 

How to stop The Falling From Grace 3.0

In my last post, I emphasized that Prayer is not just about the usual talking to God or asking that we all do. I am talking about pleading or begging for a cause, not for a short time but a continual or consistent, intentional act that draws the grace of God to move in a given direction.

Prayer- your saving grace

David was known as a man after God’s heart. He loved God, and obviously, God loved him too.

David obeyed all the commandments of God, and he didn’t turn away from following God.

However, David still errs. David had sexual relations with another man’s wife. He went ahead to kill the husband of the woman after a futile effort to clear all traces.

I have often thought that if David, a man after God’s heart, can fall, most likely anyone can.

Nevertheless,  David searched for God’s help again and again. He pleaded for mercy. Even the prophet, Nathan, prayed for him. He was very remorseful and acknowledged that he missed it. 

David understood the importance of falling and the desperate need for grace. He sought it and found it. This type of action wasn’t an ordinary prayer. It is the pleading and crying to God I talked about earlier.

David would go-ahead to write a whole chapter of Psalms 51 dedicated to this encounter with God.

We need this today– to seek God desperately whether it’s convenient or not. As believers, we must seek God in the darkest moment of our lives. Christians must cry out to Him. Sin must not be allowed to create an unnecessary barrier. It must break! David didn’t wait till he feels right or feels good or until his senses say, ” now, you can approach God”

No, he went immediately after God. Demonstration of action like this is how to avert falling from grace.  Never wait a second. Begin to seek God immediately you are down and plead your case for restoration. 

If David can have it, so can you.

We will not miss it by God’s grace. 

Signs that you are drifting away

The following are the critical signs that you are drifting away. 

— when you develop indifferent attitude to the things you love passionately before.

— when you reduce the amount of time you spend on the things you love to do.

— when other people, like your mentor, warns you but you refuse to listen. 

— when there are clear signs that you have abandoned the right lane, yet you insist on your desire.

— when suddenly you fall in love with things that you hate or dislike before.

— when you deliberately choose to do the despicable despite your conscience saying no to such acts.

— when you disobey your devoted calling.

–when you don’t share your secrets with your loved ones as you used to because your thoughts are stained with unpleasant dirt. 

–when you won’t let go of pride and you are full of yourself. 

— when you suddenly begin to say “it doesn’t matter” to things that usually matter before. 

— when you don’t seek counsel. 

— when you seek counsel but don’t follow it.

— when you seek counsel and follow it but don’t ask for direction when confused. 

— when you say you have lost your interest and you have no passion anymore.

Like a gazelle, run and cry for help before your life falls apart like a pack of cards…or like “things fall apart”.

It’s a marathon race

Life is like a marathon race.

Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
Habakkuk 2:2‭-‬3 NLT
You have to keep running until you reach the finish line.

The Christian life is a journey. You keep running each day till the end of time. 

There are lots of side attractions on the way. Steadfastness will help you reach your ultimate goal and receive the crown.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13‭-‬14 NLT

Distractions will make you lose your purpose. Even though you finish the race, you may not win the race, but your goal is to win. So, remain focus and steadfast so you can win the race.

The Oppressed and the Oppressor

“Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?”

The oppressor will always hold on to the oppressed.

Anything or anyone that places a burden on you is an oppressor.

The master usually doesn’t want the servant to go.

If a king has its way would prefer to be king forever (dictatorship).
You will need to fight hard to rescue the prey (victim) from the warrior.
The warrior usually will not let go of his spoil (victim).

To be free, the oppressed must have a ransom, a kinsman, or fight to the end.