Belief in a higher power is central to spirituality. But getting to know God, and learning the best way to connect with them, can be a daunting task. How do you approach the creator of the universe? How do you know what they’re truly like? This article is for those of us who want to get to know God—whether it’s for the first time, after a little break, or simply out of a desire to strengthen your existing relationship with them. You’ll read about the true nature of God, ideas for connecting with them, and instructions for saying powerful prayers.
God’s Goodness
If you’re going to know one thing about God, it is this: they are good. They know you and love you. They know your passions and goals, and they want you to succeed. Divinity is there to comfort you, grant you perspective, give you peace, help you find healing, and lead you to the things that are most useful for you. As you walk through life, your higher power will walk beside you if you let them.
Believing that God is good is fundamental for your relationship with them to thrive. It reminds you that even though the world isn’t perfect, God is. Sometimes you may question their goodness, or wonder where they are hiding. In these times, it’s good to think about what your higher power’s end goal is: your happiness. God doesn’t want to punish you. They only want to give you love. That love has the power to unleash spiritual power and true joy in your life.
Everything you experience in your life can help you become a better version of yourself. Most of the time, God doesn’t prevent bad things from happening to you. Rather, God can turn the bitter things in your life to sweet. Will believing in God make that breakup hurt less? Maybe not. But will you be able to see how you’ve grown as a person through the process? Yes.
God as Creator
After God’s goodness, the next important thing to know is their role as the great creator. Scientists have made extraordinary discoveries about the creation of our universe, like the big bang theory. At times, this can be tricky to digest if you believe God is the creator of the universe—some people make the mistake of believing that you can’t believe in a higher power and science at the same time. Believing that God created the universe doesn’t have to contradict what evolutionary biology has taught us. What if all that science says about the creation of our universe is true, and that all of it was orchestrated by a loving Divine figure?
Because the universe and everything in it was created by a higher power, all things are interconnected. You can’t escape that inherent interconnectedness—but you can ignore it if you don’t take care of your spiritual wellness. Tapping into your spiritual side brings strength from that interconnectedness. You gain power to make meaningful memories with other people, to care for other living things, and to appreciate the natural elements.
The scope of this post can’t cover even a fraction of all there is to know about God. If you’re interested in exploring more about God’s nature, consider turning to sacred texts from different religions. Scriptures were written by people who dedicated their lives to God, and they contain narratives as well as spiritual wisdom. You can learn a lot from reading these sacred texts.
Different Ways to Connect with God
Different people connect with God in unique ways. You can connect with your higher power when you’re doing anything, really. You don’t need to be in a special place or saying a special prayer (although those things can definitely help!). God can make ordinary moments beautiful, which is why the sacred can be found everywhere.
On the Skylight app, we have a video series about how people connect with God in their everyday lives. We’ve provided the transcripts of two of the videos here: on brewing coffee and baking bread.
For me, my morning ritual of creating this small cup of coffee connects me to the divine because, for me, the divine is sort of encapsulated in nature. And each sort of aspect of this ritual is connected to a representation of nature. To engage with these classical elements, fire, water, air, is a way to get my mind present in my body and ready to focus on my tasks for the day. The natural world is the Divine. To engage with the Earth in that very tactile way on a daily basis, without trying to rush through it to get onto the next thing. I don't know how those are connected to God, but I know that they are. I know that they must be. I know these are gifts from whatever God is. And so, starting my day with this appreciation and this respect and this ritual and this process, I think it's important to have that spirituality through everything that you do.
Bread baking, especially sourdough bread baking, is definitely a process of meditation for me. I started baking because there was a time when I didn't really have a lot of the creative outlets that I had sort of grown up with. Learning to feel the bread, learning the processes and the techniques to allow it to do its thing. And then only participate to the extent that you are helping that process. It's an exercise in letting go of the need to control everything. It is a thing of beauty that you've created in partnership with the Divine, really, with God, as I see it. Because my best connection to the Divine is through nature. So you've really partnered with nature and with God to create something you couldn't do on your own, but you still participated. And it's this beautiful, on every level, this beautiful thing.
Did any of your everyday tasks and habits come to mind as you read these stories? What moments can you make more sacred? Let these examples be your inspiration. If you’re interested in additional unique ways to connect with God, check out how someone finds God in a flower shop, or watch our While You Work series.
Pray to God
Prayer is the act of communicating with your higher power. You can pray in your head or aloud, however and whenever you’d like. The most important thing is to pray in a way that you feel comfortable. Your personal prayer time is between you and God. They are always listening. Prayer can give you peace in times of trouble, unite you with other believers, help you tap into your spiritual self, and give you inspiration for making important choices. It’s also a way to worship the Divine and express gratitude.
In our beginner’s guide to prayer, we share some ideas of how to get started if you’ve never prayed before. It might feel strange at first, talking to something that you can’t see. You have to have faith that your higher power is really listening to you. And it takes practice. Don’t be discouraged if it’s difficult for you. The great creator is infinitely patient. Just take it one step at a time.
Don’t underestimate the things God can help you with—if you’re struggling with something, why not pray about it? You’ve got nothing to lose. And if you’re having a hard time knowing what to say, here are some ideas:
● Express gratitude.
● Ask for peace and comfort.
● Share your thoughts and feelings.
● Seek answers to spiritual questions.
● Ask for help and guidance.
● Pray for others.
If you’d like specific help with making your prayers more sacred experiences, check out this article on contemplative prayer. Or read these five powerful prayer stories. Another option is to download the Skylight app and follow along with the guided prayers there, such as a prayer on calm (2 mins) or a prayer on inner peace (2 mins).
Your Relationship with God
We may all share a universal higher power, but that doesn’t mean we all connect with them in the same way. You’ll have to find what works for you. Don’t worry—God accepts any attempt at connection. But it may take a while to develop your relationship with God to a point where you feel stable and close. That’s okay. Just like in any other relationship, trust takes time to build. So if you’re struggling to be open and honest with your higher power, keep going. It will come in time.
Remember that your relationship with God is unique to you. If you’ve been trying a certain spiritual practice and it just doesn’t seem to be working, try something else that better fits your personality. People find God everywhere—in food, exercise, music, reading, and more. Take time for your hobbies, and see what spiritual element you find there.
Skylight is here to help you strengthen your relationship with God in accessible, meaningful ways. We believe that everyone can benefit from a personal connection with God. Our blog covers topics from spirituality at work to creating the perfect spiritual bedtime routine. On the app, you’ll find hundreds of spiritual exercises—yoga, meditations, affirmations, Q&A’s, podcasts, and more. And all of it is free for you to enjoy. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get to know God better.
Related articles:
God Is The Best Of Planners
Four Ways to Connect to the Divine Feminine
Finding God In Every Moment
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