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January 15
Tuesday


CONNECTING
WITH GOD

READ:
Psalm 63:1-8
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Because Your loving-
kindness is better than
life, my lips shall praise
You. __ Psalm 63:3
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In his book Objects of His Affection, Scotty Smith shares his journey of learning to personally experience the passionate love of God. As a young boy, he lost his mother suddenly in a car accident. Because of this, he closed off his wounded heart to others_including God. Several years later he received Jesus as his Savior and began to learn the truths of Christianity. Yet his relationship with the Lord in those days was, as he described, "side by side rather than face to face. Important, but not intimate."

Do you ever feel that way? You talk to the Lord a little bit, read His words in the Bible, but don't sense a passionate connection with Him like that expressed by the psalmist David in Psalm 63. Scotty suggests ways to overcome the obstacles to intimacy, from which we may glean these two ideas.

Live honestly, Open up to the Lord about the pain of your losses and admit your failures. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8; see also 1 John 1:9).

Ponder and believe the Scriptures about God's character and His longing for you. "Your lovingkindness is better than life" (Ps. 63:3; see also Ps. 139 and Eph. 1:306).

Being close in a relationship takes time and effort--even when it's with the Lord. __ Anne Cetas
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I must put my relationship~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~With You, O Lord, I pray~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Above what may distract me from~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~Time spent with You each day. __ Sper~~~~~~~~~~~
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God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our
sinfulness, holds us in our brokenness. __ Scotty Smith

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 63:1-8***************

1 O God, You are my God;
early will I seek You; my
soul thirsts for You; my
flesh longs for You in a dry
and thirsty land where there
is no water. 2 So I have
looked for You in the
sanctuary, to see Your
power and Your glory.

3 Because Your
lovingkindness is better than
life, my lips shall praise
You. 4 Thus I will bless You
while I live; I will lift up my
hands in Your name. 5 My
soul shall be satisfied as
with marrow and fatness,
and my mouth shall praise
You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on
my bed, I meditate on You
in the night watches.

7 Because You have been
my help, therefore in the
shadow of Your wings I will
rejoice. 8 My soul follows
close behind You; Your right
hand upholds me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before day light He
went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed"
(Mark 1:35). Spiritual growth is vitally linked to the believer's prayer
life. Yet, our daily responsibilities can compete with taking time
for prayer. It is important to look at Jesus' example in making time
despite His busy schedule. After a demanding evening of healing
ministry, our Lord still sought a place to pray (vv.32-35). __ HDF