Making Faith MagneticUddrag

IS THERE A WAY TO CONNECT?

At a deep level, people know they are meant for close community and for intimate relationships with other people. Yet, loneliness is at epidemic levels. In the United States, over 25% of people live alone. Most people don’t even know their neighbors’ names. From single moms to widowers to fresh-out-of-college-new-job-20-somethings, everyone around you is looking for connection. You see people searching for connectedness in political rallies, ancestry tracing, dating apps, music festivals, pride marches, social media groups, and more. But all those solutions will eventually fall short. They do not satisfy this deep longing to be connected to something real and true and eternal. And so, people keep searching, trying to scratch this itch: is there a way to connect?

As followers of Jesus, we know that we were created for connection. Our first and deepest connection is found in God Himself (more on that tomorrow!). And that steadfast, loving, faithful relationship is what empowers us to develop meaningful connections with other people.

Ask Yourself:

-How connected am I to God? To His Church? To my family and friends?

-How are people in my life looking for connection in both healthy and unhealthy ways?

Pause to Pray: God, thank you for promising to be with your people, to be with me. Forgive me when I forget to pause in my day and just seek connection with You. Open my eyes to see how I can step into a deeper and more meaningful connection with You, with the Church, and with those I love. Open my heart to compassion for those who need connected to You. Amen

Take a Next Step:

-Commit to praying for some people in your life! Use this 3-3-3 prayer method: Write down 3 names in your journal and pray for them every day for 3 minutes at 3 pm for the duration of this plan.