Finding Union With God

“Listen to no man who has not listened to God.” - A.W. Tozer

As humans, when it comes to life, we need guidance. More specifically, we need the guidance of our Heavenly Father.  

Living through what we are right now, times full of emotion and strong opinion with vulnerabilities on every side, we must be careful to only allow God to interpret our times and not let outside forces influence us in a wrong direction.

We need the guidance that only comes from a life lived in union with God.

Our energy and vitality, our strength and endurance, all the virtues like patience, loving-kindness, and forgiveness—these all flow out of our union with God. 

When the soul tries to produce any of these things on its own, it tires very easily. 

This is why Jesus prays a goal for each of us — and it is found in John 17:20-23:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you…one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me.”

This is not quite the same thing as saying we believe in God, or that we are listening to God. Union, oneness, is something far higher and richer. 

Believing in God is not the same thing as union with God, doing various God-activities is not the same as union with God, obeying God isn’t necessarily union with God. 

These things can all be done while there is a kind of distance between our soul and God. You can read all about Italy, but that is very different from actually living there. You can do things for your spouse, but that’s not the same as being united with them.

Union with God not only brings guidance and insight into life, but it also allows for a true relationship to be formed.

And nothing, I mean nothing, will bring you into union with God more than learning to love him.

Turning our hearts toward God in love opens our hearts to receive him like no other practice. And it is a practice, something we consciously and actively engage in throughout our day.

So, if your deepest desire is union with God, let me give you two simple practices that will help you get started.

1. Start with something you love.

The sound of a rainstorm as it blows across the trees. The majesty of a waterfall cascading towards the pool below. Your dog. A favorite song, maybe music itself. Perhaps a favorite spot — like the path on the beach that I shared in an earlier message — or a family cabin in the mountains.

We begin with the things we love; this is the path to union with the Father.

Admittedly, we don’t always catch the connection to God. But God made these things, and he gave you the heart to love them like you do.

So, you’ll be out on an early morning walk with a cool breeze and smell the sweet scent of honeysuckle and your heart will say, “Man, I love this!”

Once you experience something you love, then…

2. Remind ourselves, what you love is a gift from God.

The next step you need to do is say, “So does God. He made this moment; He made these things. He is the creator of everything I love."

As you do this throughout the day, your heart will be more and more connected to God. You begin to recognize that every wonderful thing in life is a gift from God.

Every moment you have ever been happy, thrilled, comforted, or hopeful… that was God loving you. Such gifts come from no other source. 

This is why James, the brother of Jesus, says this in James 1:17:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.”

No other act will bring you a greater measure of God than loving him and reminding yourself that he loves you.

Because life is a savage assault on our heart’s confidence that God is good—and thus our union with him—the practice of reminding ourselves he is the creator of everything we love will be a rescue of our faith.

And this is a very quiet and gentle thing. Sometimes dramatic, but maybe only about 5% of the time. 

Most of the time the union of our soul with God is something that is very gentle and life-giving. And therefore you have to be gentle and tuned-in to be aware of it. 

But I think you will love the fruit of this.