First – The Connection:
To connect means to bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established.
We cannot hear God if we do not allow Him to dwell within us. We must invite God into our home—our minds and hearts. Often, our minds are preoccupied with thoughts about our children, jobs, friends, family, and other things beyond our control. We worry if our children will pass their tests, if we will keep our jobs, or if our loved ones are healthy and safe. Sometimes, we even worry about things we have no business thinking about.
Then, there’s what’s in our hearts. Deep down, we know our children will succeed, that we are capable in our jobs, and that we will be there for our family and friends. However, being still and allowing God to enter our minds and hearts is crucial for taking this next step. Simply inviting God into something as personal and precious as our inner selves connects us to His presence. We often guard ourselves and push God away, even though we know He only has good intentions. We do this because we fear to let down the guard wall that we believe protects us.
Here’s an example: Imagine God is like that neighbor who sits on their porch every day and shouts, “Hello!” They see you take your kids to school, unload your groceries, and water your lawn. The neighbor sees you decorating all year long through every season. From time to time, you finally notice the neighbor and you give a wave with a smile. You might say hello back and leave it there. What’s the point of this? The connection has not been made because the necessary contact of communication is missing to make it a real established link between you and your neighbor.
God knows all about us and wants to help by talking to us. When we avoid connecting with Him, we waste time and miss the opportunity for a deeper relationship. Do not let fear of opening your heart and mind be the reason for your disconnection from God. Make the connection. Open your heart and take God in. Create the link. Become established with God.
This concept is beautifully illustrated with Hagar. Let’s read from the scripture to help us see it in God’s Word:
7 But [a]the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to [Egypt by way of] Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit [b]humbly to her authority.” 10 Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11 The Angel of the Lord continued,
“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall name him Ishmael (God hears),
Because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your persecution (suffering).12 “He (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man;
His hand will be against every man [continually fighting]
And every man’s hand against him;
And he will dwell in defiance of all his brothers.”13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are [c]God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after [d]seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?”
Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, found herself in a desperate situation, alone in the desert, running away. Despite her position and the dire circumstances, God reached out to her. An angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert and spoke to her, offering guidance and promises for her future. This encounter shows that God seeks to connect with everyone, regardless of their status or situation.
Hagar’s story teaches us that no matter where we are or what we are going through, God is always ready to connect with us. Like Hagar, we need to be open to His presence and listen for His voice. When we do, we can experience the comfort and direction that only He can provide.
Now that you have made a real connection, we will move on to the next step: The Talk.
Scriptural Reference: Genesis 16:7-13
Lesson: God seeks to connect with everyone, regardless of their status or situation. Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, encounters God in the desert. Despite her position, God reaches out to her, showing that anyone can connect with Him.