If you’ve ever fallen out of touch with a friend, you know one text message is all it takes to reconnect—AND it’s no different with God. He wants to connect with you…

He wants to guide and support you. He wants to bless you with abundance and well-being. 

But, first, he needs to know you’re listening.

So, how do you do that? How do you tell God you’re listening—when it’s been months or years since you last reached out?

First, find a quiet place and set your phone to Do Not Disturb. Settle in and practice some deep breathing—the quieter your mind, the easier it’ll be to hear God’s voice.

When you’re ready, make your amends and commit to coming back to Him. Then, ask the following questions:

What do you want for my life?
How can I follow the path you’ve created for me?

Listening to God takes time and intention. And, especially when we’re out of practice, hearing His voice can be challenging…

So set your expectations aside and if this exercise doesn’t turn out exactly how you’d hoped, don’t be discouraged. Come back to it every day knowing that He hears you whether or not you hear Him.

You are the steward of your table (more on what I mean by that soon!), but God? He’s the source. He gave you life for a reason. I call that reason your assignment. 

‍I use the word “assignment” because it adds a sense of urgency to the concept of purpose. 

I have an assignment. A mission. I wasn’t created solely to enjoy myself or indulge myself. No, I was created to make a difference in the world. And the same is true for you—you have an assignment of your own.

But when your choices or your goals pull you away from that purpose, you won’t be spiritually healthy. You won’t have a meaningful life no matter what kind of salary or other outward signs of success you achieve.

Remember: God is here to serve you as you serve Him. When you use your life to honor and uphold His name—when you clear a spot for him at your table and invite him to take a seat—he’ll return the favor tenfold. 

We show God he’s welcome at our table by prioritizing Him and making Him a part of our day-to-day life, which can look a little different for everyone. 

Here are some of my go-to practices:

1. Bible Study: When we study the Bible, we demonstrate our commitment to following God’s word and strengthening our faith. 

There’s no one right way to do it, but I recommend grabbing a notebook and reading through a verse of the Bible, making note of anything and everything that stands out to you. 

2. Meditation: One of the easiest ways to make space for God is by clearing our minds so we can better connect with him. 

You don’t need an expensive meditation app or one of those fancy cushions to do this. It can be as simple as sitting in silence for a minute or two recognizing his presence.

3. Acts Of Kindness: God created us out of His generosity, and when we follow His example and share our resources with others, we honor Him. 

It doesn’t have to be financial—an act of kindness can look like you talking your friend through a bad breakup to volunteering to help a family member move.

Finding spiritual people who can help you stay on a healthy path is ESSENTIAL to building and maintaining your bond with God—for two main reasons:

1. Perspective: When we connect with our community, we gain the wisdom of men and women who can see things we can’t. 

They can see past our circumstances and the fears that may be holding us back from pursuing our purpose…

… and offer us their perspectives with our best interest in mind.

‍Accountability: Because it’s one thing to have goals and plans…

But it’s a whole other thing to have a group of people dedicated to helping you reach those goals and plans while staying in God’s good standing.

So, how do you go about connecting with your community? For me, it looks like attending events, taking classes, and volunteering.

But, let’s say you haven’t been attending church consistently. Take the plunge, go, and challenge yourself to start a conversation with at least one new person.