Making the Right Connection

Yesterday, my wife and I switched our phone and internet providers. The previous one promised a lot, but we saw rising costs and very little of what was promised. On our landline phone (yes, we have one, and yes, we use it), the audio always had a buzz in the background (we thought it was the phones we purchased until yesterday), the internet was never up to speed, and we kept seeing fees we didn’t understand pop up everywhere. Yesterday, it took about the whole day to get us connected to the service (there were some complications, but the workmen got it sorted out, and made sure we were connected that day instead of delayed a week). Now we’re feeling like we’re getting what was promised to us. We feel vindicated, and we’re saving money.

Why do I share all of this? Because many of us in our own lives feel sorely disconnected from God. If we’re completely honest with ourselves, we do. We feel like there is interference in the connection, and the promises of God are far from us. Yet, perhaps we need to make that correction ourselves! Since I have made time every day to read God’s word, and not merely read, but prayerfully approach it, since I have dedicated time each day to prayer, and specifically for prayer, since I have tried to be more deliberate in being a steward of all that God has given me, especially of my wife and kids, I have noted more peace in my life. I have seen blessings small and great. Why? Because my connections is not outsourced to church, to the radio or television preachers and musicians, and I have been seeking the Lord with all of my heart. If I feel disconnected from God, I have come to realize it’s no one’s fault but my own, and I must take deliberate steps to seek Him. James says that if I draw near to God then He will draw near to me. So I will run after Him! I want to be connected to God always. I want to be in His will and in His presence. Loved ones, make the right connection. Pursue God, and do not get distracted by anything else.

2 Chronicles 29:10-22a

Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORD and to the king. And they offered sacrifices to the LORD, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the LORD, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness.