The author of Genesis 24:45 writes, “Before I had finished speaking in my heart … there was Rebekah”. Paul said we are to be praying constantly. In other words, we are to be continually aware of the Lord's presence (1Th 5:17). Remember, God knows our thoughts and the intentions of our heart (Hebrews 4:12). How could Abraham’s servant recognize Rebekah if he was not in touch, connected with the Lord?
My Theology professor, Larry Shelton, said our relationship with God is like being hooked up to a life support system. What happens when we are disconnected from the oxygen?
I do not like to fly. Honestly, I am afraid to fly and I only do it when it is absolutely necessary. Never mind the statistics; it is a powerful and intrusive reminder that I have no control over my own safety.
Despite not wanting to, there are times when I’ve had to fly. If you’re on a non-stop flight from Portland to New York it isn’t supposed to be on and off. If it is, you’re a casualty. Neither is our relationship and our connection with God supposed to be on and off.
Like Larry’s life-support system, Paul says our connection, our relationship with God is supposed to be non-stop. When we break that connection by thinking what we should not think, saying what we should not say, or doing what we should not do … we always crash. Putting ourselves before or over someone else is a sure fire indication we’re disconnected from the Lord and our life support system.
Romans 8:22 says the whole earth groans in labor pains and in the next verse we too groan... waiting for our adoption, waiting to be with the Lord. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to be with the Lord now. Do you groan when you know you have disconnected yourself from God?
Our relationship with God is not dependent on praying in public or praying with eloquence, but it is dependent on being connected; groaning without words for God’s presence or groaning with sadness because we’ve usurped God’s rightful place in our heart.
God understands our desire to draw closer, but we need to understand a non-stop flight is supposed to be just that, non-stop, continual. As Larry said, we cannot survive when we come off life support.
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