Chapter 24

Connecting with God

Sections

1. Being Close to God
   1. Seek God
      • Seek God – with all your heart
      • Seek God wholeheartedly and you will find him
      • Seeking God should be accompanied by obedience to him
      • Seek God and his help through prayer and fasting
      • Blessings of seeking God
      • Not seeking God has detrimental results
      • Note: Desire God and things of God
   2. Focus on God
      • Keep thinking about God
      • Keep thinking about what God has done
      • Think about Jesus Christ – and his example
      • Look forward to what is to come in the afterlife . . .
      • . . . Do not dwell on the past
      • Further godly things to focus on
   3. Meet with God and Live before Him
      • Prepare yourself to come before God, as shown in the OT practice of consecration
      • Draw near to God . . .
      • . . . Come before God, meeting with him
      • Continue to live before God, in his presence . . .
      • . . . “Walk” with God
      • Act before God – in awareness of his presence and scrutiny
   4. Know God
      • Know God and Jesus Christ
      • Knowing God is linked to obeying his commands
      • Knowing God is linked with loving and caring for others
      • Knowing God aids godly living
      • Knowing God and Jesus Christ is vital for spiritual growth
      • Further blessings of knowing God
      • Note: Not knowing God leads to sin and evil

2. Praying to God
   1. The Importance of Prayer
      • Prayer is portrayed as an offering to God
      • Prayer is very powerful . . .
      • . . . If we ask God for things, he will give or do them
      • We help others by praying for them
      • We are called on to pray
   2. Praying before God
      • Pray before God, in his presence
      • Approach God with confidence
      • Be reverent . . .
      • . . . and humble yourself before God
      • Pray to God as a caring father
      • Pray in the Holy Spirit
   3. Physical Aspects of Prayer
      • Pray aloud . . .
      • . . . or pray in your heart
      • Pray anywhere
      • Pray anytime
      • Pray constantly
      • Spend long periods alone in prayer – like Jesus did
      • Keep alert to pray
      • Postures used in prayer
      • Note: Do not pray for show and do not babble on
   4. Making Requests
      • Ask for things in Jesus Christ’s “name”
      • Ask earnestly . . .
      • . . . Even fast when making requests of God
      • Ask persistently
      • Believe and do not doubt that what you ask will be granted
      • Give thanks when asking
      • Note: “The Lord’s Prayer” – the prayer Jesus gave as an example
   5. Epilogue: God’s Response to Requests
      • God answers those who obey and please him . . .
      • . . . God does not listen to those who do evil rather than good
      • God grants anything we ask that is in accordance with his will . . .
      • . . . Further verses regarding prayer and God’s will
      • Sometimes God may not appear to answer, or does not answer immediately
      • Sometimes God and Jesus Christ refuse requests
      • Examples and affirmation of God answering prayer

 ➜Major headings in: 24. Connecting with God (and all of Unit E)

Pray for persecuted Christians