Deep connection with others doesn’t just happen. We have to do the work of being available, committed, transparent and vulnerable. We have to invest in people that are willing to walk with us into our futures. Let Holy Spirit guide and direct you. Every relationship plays a role in the story of our lives. We may think we don’t have time for connection, but the truth is we are made for it. We are all leaders and followers. But our leadership and connection doesn’t show up until we do.
If we flip the script, there is someone that wants to connect with us. He is King of kings. He is just. He is perfect. He is truth. He is love. And all His plans include connecting with you. His name is Jesus!
It is proven that connecting with others is important. Social connection lowers anxiety and depression. This connection with others helps us regulate our emotions. It also helps improve our immune systems.
If we start each day connecting with Daddy God- it supercharges you. This is a reliable connection. It is always trustworthy, safe, loving, merciful, forgiving, purposeful, faith filled, miraculous, super intelligent…. connection that never fails.
Let me just give an example of needing connection. We wake up and check our cell phone for text, emails and private messages. We take a shower and use the restroom- we check again. We drive to work or school- check it again. We live a cycle of checking. Checking for connection. We keep going back because our hearts long for connection. Yet, no matter how many times we check, we still have a craving for more.
Our first connection has to be with Daddy God. Time spent connecting with Him equips us for every other relationship/connection that we have, even the connection with ourselves. We are created for real-life connections that are way deeper than emails, text messages, Facebook comments and Snapchat. We are created for face to face and heart to heart.
<<<After coming out of this season, the realization that we need to fill that lonely place in our hearts with friends that we can share life with in person. Not just virtual lives.>>>
There is something so special about in-person, heart to heart, eye to eye connection and conversation. First, in our quiet time with Holy Spirit, then, with each other. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us to not give up on meeting together to worship and encourage one another. “Meeting together” is important to Father God. Even Jesus needed face to face connections. He surrounded himself with close friends- first with Father God, secondly with intimate friends. Friends like Peter, James and John- friends like Martha, Mary and Lazarus. People that Jesus shared meals with, had conversations with, and experienced life with.
So this week who will you connect with face to face? Who will you share Jesus with? Who will you look at eye to eye and listen to heart to heart?
<<<Connection can happen regardless of our perceptions, regardless of what potentially could separate us. Ie. Age, race, gender, economic standing, or political views. >>>
Proverbs is full of nuggets of truth on how to connect with each other on the deepest level- heart to heart. This is one of life’s most important skills. It doesn’t matter how talented or smart you are, the key is knowing how to connect to others.
One of the most important parts of connection is commitment. It is making the choice to be someone’s friend no matter what. The difference between an acquaintance and a friend is commitment. Proverbs 17:17 “a friend loveth at all times…”.
True connections take time. While on social media we can hit the like button we are called to go much deeper with each other. That means making relationships a priority. Different seasons of life and circumstances will impact our connections, but we make time for what is important to us. Just a little bit of time and encouragement goes a long way.
Being connected means choosing to stay when it is not easy. We live in a fallen world and are all fallen people. This means conflict comes, personalities clash, disappointments happen, and falls occur. But we become stronger when we stay in connection. When we decide what happens to one happens to all. We are called to share the joyful and the hard life. Connection means we win and lose together. It means we cheer each other on, hold each other up, and keep Jesus at the center of all our relationships.
Stay fully connected to the divine love and wisdom of our Heavenly Father. By praying, reading His love letter to you (the Bible), worship, and following His purpose for our lives. Loving God- Loving Ourselves- Loving People! Covenant Connections.
Allison Bramlett 