DEVELOPING A CLOSER FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR CREATOR

BIBLE PASSAGE:
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. 
(Psalm 5:3)

MEDITATION:
How close is your relationship with the Lord?
Do you pray to Him daily, or only occasionally?
The psalmist had such a close relationship 
with the Lord that he greeted Him every morning, 
and he knew his day would be better after speaking to the Him.

We all have a desire for friendships and the scriptures tell us 
we can develop one with the world, or with God, but not both.
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world 
means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a 
friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4) 

The psalmist was confident that when he openly expressed 
his concerns and asked for the Lord’s help, he would receive it.
At the same time, he knew that the Lord would answer 
in His time, and not on his own expectant timetable.
It may not be that particular day, or the next one, but he had such a close 
fellowship with the Lord that he could patiently wait for His response.

He did not allow impatience to creep into his mind 
and cause him to give up on the Lord’s response to his requests.
Instead, he chose to greet the Lord each morning 
with an attitude of confidence and patience.

We live in a world of impatience, which promotes selfish attitudes.
We are conditioned to want everything ‘right now’ 
and when it doesn’t happen, conflict is inevitable.  
Our lack of patience does not promote good relationships, but damages them.
We can easily see the connection between selfishness and impatience.

If we expect to develop patience, then we need to become less selfish, 
and a major step in reducing selfishness, is to increase our humbleness.
Not only does humility help us in reducing selfishness and impatience,
but it also helps us in enhancing our relationship with the Lord. 
The scriptures are clear about God’s involvement with the humble.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Psalm 25:9)

ACTION:
Are you allowing the ‘ways of the world’ (selfishness, impatience, 
arrogance, greed, etc.) to affect you and your relationship with the Lord?
When these things control our thinking, 
we become more dependent on self, and less dependent on the Lord.

Since the Lord desires our dependence and not our independence,
our lack of humility not only creates problems for ourselves, 
and negatively impacts our relationship with others, 
but it causes us to fail in developing a closer relationship with the Lord.

Some say it takes 21 days to establish a habit.
If that is true, 
then commit to greeting the Lord each morning for 21 straight days.
Thank Him for how He has blessed you and share with Him your concerns.
See if this doesn’t create a closer relationship with God, and create 
in you a desire to meet with Him each morning before you start your day.
Remember that your Creator cares about you and wants to hear from you often. 

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I fail to meet with You. 
Thank You for Your blessings and for Your desire to hear from me, 
a sinner who does not deserve Your mercy and grace, but one who 
has received Your salvation as a result of what Jesus sacrificed for 
me. Help me to remember His ultimate expression of love for me, 
and to intentionally increase my daily communications with You.”


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