Seven Steps to Finding God in an Ungodly World

Where's God? Is he hiding? Does he see what's happening in the world? Does he care? is he real? Or not? If there is no God, then what hope is there for tomorrow? What hope is there for me? Take off your shoes and follow his footprints...

Does God have footprints. He does. He left them in a book called the Bible. The most popular book in the world, the King James Version, has enjoyed 400 years as the #1 Bestseller since its first rolled off the press. William Tyndale who provided most of the translations was tried for heresy and burned at the stake. It is a book of great weight and it has caused nations to fall and crumble, while others have grown and prospered based on its tenets. God talks to his children through the Bible. He gives instructions, comfort, practical advice, and godly wisdom through the Bible. He gives human and divine examples. He offers solace, he tells of the beginning, he shows protocol, he offers a peek into the future, and he tells of the ending. He does not discriminate and offers no condemnation of any man or woman. No matter how heinous or foul a life they may have live. No matter how wounded or defective or distraught one may be; He is an equal opportunist. A God promiscuous in his love: EVERYONE IS WELCOME! "For God so loved the world...(JOHN 3:16)

God is not hiding. He's out in full view. What you need is connection to the god line. You need peace and reassurance. You need to see your own power and experience the power of God in your life. Here are 7 steps in finding God for yourself. But, at the end, a challenge will be issued to you. You asked a good question, but will you be bold enough, daring enough to search out the matter. Charles Sheldon wrote in his novella, "In His Steps", "We propose to follow Jesus' steps as closely and literally as we believe he taught his disciples." Let's walk.

1. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD

Every second, of every minute, of every hour, man is created. A little girl, a little boys, twins, triplets, each with their own unique face, voice, lifeline, and fingertips. No two exactly alike...How awesome. Stand at the ocean's edge and let its greatness sweep over you. Who can dare say it can be controlled. Look at the sky and know no man made it. The bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." (Ps. 14:1) It is obvious there is an intelligence behind mankind and everything involved in mankind's history. Seeking God is not an admission of weakness. It is a confession of strength, "the beginning of wisdom," the bible says. By acknowledging God, you have embarked on a journey to begin to live a life more skillfully and decidedly, more fulfilling. So speak...
God, are you there? I can tell by by the things in the world that you're real, so please help me. I need help to live in this world. I need you. I need a a God who loves me for myself. Show me you're real and show me my place in this world.

2. WHICH GOD

A very popular talk show hostess has proclaimed on her talk show that there are many roads that lead to God. This person has done many acts of charity and has helped many people, but is she telling the truth? Can we find God in different ways and in different forms. The bible says," Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No may comes to the Father except through Him." Give Jesus a chance to speak for himself.

Christians point to him and talk of Him, but who better to speak of himself than the one called "The Word." It's His own confession about himself and man's place in it. He's not as bad as some people make him. Nor as scary as some of his disciples have made him. He is above all a lovely God with some requirements after you've accepted His salvation. His requirements? Follow His example. By dying a death intended for a murderer, Jesus murdered every opposition that could stop you from receiving the good salvation freely offered to all who want it. (Matt:26-28) This salvation includes but is not limited to freedom from the fear of death, peace, the complete wiping out of previous sin, hope, mercy, goodness, love, strength, an assured place with God, a new identity, and so much more... By choosing this God, Jesus, you get a future to unravel, a hope. Can you see Jesus a little better. Then ask Him...
Jesus, I don't know a lot about you, but I like what I hear. If you died for everybody, that means me, too. Then, I'd like to accept your offer of salvation and everything that comes with it. From this moment on, you're my personal Savior, Jesus Christ. I now have a Father in Heaven and like any child I can approach you in prayer and You will hear me. Let me say, Thank you, I'm honored to meet you and from this time forth, I will know I have somebody on my side. Somebody who will teach me how to walk in this world. Thank you, Jesus,very much.

3.THE TEACHER

But, wait a minute, you say! Jesus died on the cross! How can he help me? I'm still alone. No, you're not alone. Not ever again. Jesus left so that the Comforter, the Teacher, can come and teach you how to live above what this world has to offer. As a matter of fact, he is already living in you if you prayed that prayer above. He will teach you all that you need to know, telling you everything God has said. He was with God when He made the earth and when he made you. He is called the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of God. He's very polite and very holy. Above all else, the Teacher uncovers Jesus and his teachings to ordinary people. He links every believer, that's you, to God the Father and to the Son, that's Jesus. You now have access to God and by befriending the Holy Spirit, He teaches you how live a godly life with purpose and direction, "...guiding you into all truth." (John:16) The Holy Spirit is like knowing the melody of a song you want to sing. Through Him, your communion with God deepens and you become "known" by him. Don't you want to be recognized by God? Ready to be introduced. Here we go...
Holy Spirit, I've prayed to accept Jesus and His salvation into my life. This means I am a new person with a new future. Now, I ask You to guide me into all truths and show me how to live a victorious life, following Jesus Christ's example. Be the melody in my heart and teach me what I need to know. Thank You, Spirit of God. I am yours. Amen. It's done.

4. THE BIBLE

So, now what do you do. You're standing on the top of a mountain and which way do you go. Everything is laid before you and it all looks difficult. This is where many new believers get lost. You've prayed Jesus in your heart, but it's not over. You've received the Holy Spirit as Teacher of your Life. You have to get yourself a bible and study what God has to say.

Today, the bible comes in many forms, including on line bible versions, study bibles, Hebrew and Latin bibles, bibles for every way of thinking. For new beginners, I would recommend the New International Version. (NIV) I like Quest Study Bible, which is jammed pack with bible trivia and easy to understand. Or, even get a bible intended for a teenager which offers insightful advice throughout the book and tailored for a younger audience. I mean, you want to understand it. It's not just a book, but a puzzle book. Understanding is the key to unwrapping the mystery behind God. The truth is there are many versions of the bible available. Find out what's most comfortable for you. Do you find reading boring but you like storytelling? Well, there are scores of the complete bible on audio with voice actors, dramatized scripts, and sound effects. They have the bible in Braille for those who can't see. They have couple study bibles for married folks and group study bibles. They have men and women bibles, and even baby bibles to start with your child. Visit your local book store or Christian bookstore.

One Year bibles are great, practical tools that can help you see the big picture of who God is and what he desires. The Daily Walk Bible has devotional helps to guide you through the bible. Dividing the year into 365 days, the Publishers portion a section of the bible for each day, including a little of Old and New Testament, with Proverbs and Psalms as a daily reading. By reading that day's worth of bible, in a year's time, you will have read the entire bible in one year. What's better than reading parts of the bible? READING ALL OF THE BIBLE! Who jumps in and out of a book and expects to understand it. Exactly! Did you know God calls the Bible a Sword. Why? Because it's the weapon He has given to empower His people. Do you have your sword, the Bible, good! Pray with me...
God, let your Word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Ps. 119:105) Jesus followed your word. Help me do the same. Amen.

5. PRAYER

There were three men of different churches discussing what was the most effective prayer they've prayed. The Priest said the learned passages of his religion brings him great joy because of their familiarity. Once a week, he goes to confessional and recites his mistakes and is given penance which he follows faithfully. Another man of god recounts how every morning, noon, and evening, he faces to the east and send up prayers to his god and places gifts of food beside his statue. The Pastor nods and says, I pray on my knees for at least an hour every day and, on Sundays, I pray double. Suddenly, this voice comes from the hallway where a man is working on a cable line. The cable guy says, interrupting all three, the most effective prayer I prayed was when I was hanging upside from a pole 30 feet in the air secured only by safety hook. It was a prayer right from my heart!

I've heard many people say to pray and nobody knows what to do. There is an art to prayer and Jesus gives an example to his disciples to follow. The Lord's prayer can be memorized but don't use it as a chant,. Look at how Jesus moved and talked to God the Father in the prayer. (Matt. 6:5-13) Adjust your prayer accordingly. The Bible says to go in a closet (quiet place) and pray in secret to God. Prayer is a sincere, heart-felt communication between you and God. Can you use some naked truth? Then be truthful. Let your prayers be honest, be real, be even painful as you take honest stock of yourself and your life, your fears, and your dreams. As you confess, the Teacher, the ever-present, so sweet Holy Spirit will help you praise God and pray. Yes, the God this world keeps saying is not real or many things to different people, God himself will draw near to you. He will listen to you and, you'll derive the peace that passes all understanding from Him. Let's draw near...
Father in Heaven, how great you are! Help me to understand your words. Out of the depths of my heart I cry , Jesus, teach me how to be one with you. You are life! Amen.

6. PRAISE

GOD IS GREAT! There is nothing more powerful you can do after prayer but to be a cheerleader for God. You don't like that picture. What about being a fan for your favorite team: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Guess what? More than just a a fan, you're now an official member of the team. You're not a mascot, a spectator, nor an official, but an active team player. Can you give God a cheer now! Better still, make it a shout! Why! The games has already been played, and your quarterback, Jesus Christ, threw the winning touchdown when He died a convicted man on the cross. Except he was innocent.

Praise comes from a thankful heart and it must be practiced. The songs you sing to God help to deepen your faith, comfort your soul, and enables you to be more intimate with God. What kind of music do you like? More than likely, they have that style of music in Christian music: country, rock, rap, gospel, punk rock, acid rock, traditional. The musical genre is bursting out of it seams as more and more people use their creativity to express their love for God. Why? Because #1- He is due it. Jesus saved the world. The entire world has Jesus' free salvation right now. They just don't know it. When a human King comes, we know to bow and pay homage. Well, the King of Heaven is present in our lives. When we begin to bow and acknowledge the King of our souls, we begin to see a change in ourselves and those around us. #2-We owe it to him. It's the least we can do for the savior of our lives. Singing songs is a pleasant way to show our thankfulness to Him. If a doctor saves your life, don't you say thank you. If some one gives you a gift, don't you say thank you. Shouldn't we thank God for the gift of life He gives us every day. Shouldn't we rejoice because we now have a faithful friend with whom to share our life with. A great song comes to mind...What a friend we have in Jesus/All our griefs and sins to bear/What a privilege to carry/Everything to God in prayer. There's a song for every mood, for every situation. You can even make up your own. God loves when His people praise Him. He taps his toes and dances with us.
Father, I will praise you with my whole heart. I'll give thanks for now I see how good you are! Thank you for all you do for me and all you have done. Make me see even more of your good works! Show me how to do good works for your causes. King Jesus, I pray that you make it happen. You are good! Amen.

7. PRESENTATION
Finally, find a good, bible-preaching, Holy spirit welcoming church whose mission is Missions. That's what every good Christian church should be doing. Telling everybody the Good News! Jesus has paid the cost for sin. Accept and be saved. The Bible says, everybody has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is immune to sin. There are no little or big sins. There's just sin. So lose the discrimination. Everybody needs salvation and it's freely given . Who will receive it? Who wants a good thing? A good church will help you understand what being a Christian is all about. But, you're definitely going to need the leading of the Holy Spirit. There are many churches with many doctrines and ideas. Remember: All that any believer needs are the thoughts of God and what he thinks. That's all.

When believers get together and begin to praise God together, they make a holy presentation of love and unity. Power is released because they all agree on one thing: God is good. You can bring gifts and present it before the King, but it functions in another way, also. Your church now has aid to help those in need and bring the glorious news: God is a good God. He loves the world and He wants to bless it. This dying world needs life. It needs to know there is light in all the darkness. It's our job, followers of Jesus Christ, to get the news to them.

The answer to finding god in an ungodly world Is just one word: P-R-A-Y-E-R-S. Seven letters for a powerful act. Seven steps to finding and developing a relationship with one God. Three people in one: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. When you find them, you find you. You find purpose, direction, and help. Instead of being a leaf upon errant waters, you are a truth light perched on top of a hill, light carried by the wind. You're like the Wise Men, the Magi who followed the star in the sky, to find the Christ Child. They paid homage to the King of Kings by presenting to him gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold--O come, let us adore him.

Now, that you found God, encourage yourself. Contrary to what you thought, this entire article has been about finding you. Were you thinking no one wanted you? Have you been depressed thinking, I'm alone. No one cares. Well, God does and did. Read the article again and follow the footprints of Jesus by reading His Bible. I recommend Charles Sheldon's book, "In His Steps" for further reading. It's about a man searching out how he can help a dying world. God bless you and take it one step at a time.