No Disconnect

What makes you feel disconnected from God?  

I was asked that question recently and knew right away what my answer would be.  Two things came to mind.  If I stop singing, and if I don't regularly pray in Spirit.  Then I feel that disconnect.  Yes, I know there are other things that can make us feel disconnected, but those two were the ones for me that most make me feel like there's a disconnect.

Since giving my heart to Jesus over 43 years ago, I love to sing!  Sing to the Lord, sing to my kids, my grandkids, and sing to myself, or whoever is around, doesn't matter . . . I start to sing.  For me it can be difficult to hold the song in, when you just can't help singing.  

There was a time when the singing stopped for a time.  I hadn't realized it, but my son Johnny brought it to my attention.  We were in UCSF in the cancer ward - Johnny was going through chemotherapy and things were not looking good.  Louie (my dear husband), and our other boys were so far away from us in Carson City.  Separated by the miles with schedules of work and school, there were times we just couldn't all be together during this 'regimen of treatment.'  It made me sad.  I quit singing.  And Johnny reminded me, 'Mom, you aren't singing.'  I smiled a weak smile.  I opened my Bible and thought I need to read a Psalm right now.  This is what I read - and after each verse I thought these things:
Psalm 137:1-6 
By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.  
O how I weep for my home, my family, my friends. 
Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. 
I hung up my voice, my music, my song.
 For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”  
I felt that Satan was tormenting me - sing now to the Lord - don't you have a song in your heart now?
How can we sing the LORD’S song In a foreign land?  
How can I NOT sing to the Lord?  He's who is sustaining me - keeping me upright and strong in the midst of this battle!
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill.  May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.  
O Lord, forgive me!  I have quit singing - please don't let me forget You, I do exalt You Lord, You are my joy and my song!  
And I began to sing, but even now if the singing stops, I feel disconnected and I remember, I will sing to the Lord.

After Johnny went to be with Jesus, I found great comfort and peace when I prayed in the Spirit.  The Bible tells us to build yourselves up, edify yourself, by praying in the Spirit, yes, pray in your understanding but also pray in the Holy Spirit.  I must use and practice my spiritual language that was given when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.  

No, I may not understand what I may be saying, but inwardly the Holy Spirit is building my faith in Jesus Christ.  I become stronger in what and Who I believe in.  So, never let a day go by, without praying in the Spirit.  The power of the Holy Spirit makes me a bold witness of the great things God is doing in my life, and gives me gifts to give away so that others will know God is REAL, He is ALIVE, and I want to share that with everyone!  So when I get downcast and feel disconnected - I pray in the Spirit.  

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Eph 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;