Dec 30th, 2021: Discerning Our Relationships with God

 

Some couples make a big deal about their New Year's Eve. It tends to have some romantic notion to it. It is the time of the year for some people to consider how their relationships or marriages are going. How about our relationships with God? When should we double-check on it? How do we know where we stand with God? Here are a few signs of its deterioration.


A) Our prayer life is non-existent. We feel detached from God. We have no awareness of His presence. He has become a religious figure whenever we think or talk about him. We don't feel the need to be with Him.


B) We react to life events with blames. We blame Him, and we blame others. There is no thoughtfulness on our part. We can become very negative quickly. Fear of responsibility becomes our major struggle.


C) We don't give thanks. We think we deserve whatever is good in life. We don't want to hear God and what He has in mind for us. We would rather avoid God than give thanks to Him. A thankless heart might lead us to a reckless life.


D) We fail to affirm others. We don't see the goodness in others as God's goodness toward us. We feel no support from God, so we cannot support others. Our insecurity dominates our interaction with others.


E) We don't talk with God about how we feel and what we think. We don't share with others how we are doing either. We shut down and keep our distance from God and others. We avoid life in our self-imposed isolation.


F) We don't have much expectation from God and act as if God has forgotten us. We feel as if we are orphans spiritually. There is a great sense of emptiness, and we cannot describe it.


Deuteronomy 31: "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

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