My stress level rose. It seemed like nothing was going right. Everything was piling on top of me. I had thirty things to do and no time to do it. I was swamped. I NEEDED to do something and I had no idea when I was going to do it. It had to be done that day! I had put it off way too long. I prayed to God, "God! Please help me! I need your help!" It seemed as though He already knew what ways going to happen, maybe because He did! My friend walked up to me and said, "I am hungry go get me some food." Now as soon as she said that I knew God had answered my prayer. See I was planning on asking her to the banquet and I had made her a ice cream cake. Now since it was ice cream I couldn't just let it sit out and I had no place to keep it cool. So the ice cream cake was sitting in my freezer at home. So since my friend had just told me she was hungry and I had asked God to help me because I didn't know how or when I was going to ask her, it all fit together. God had worked it all out. The stress went down and doors opened.

Having a God-centered life is very important for Life As We Know It. Without putting God in the center of your life things will be a very long and bumpy for you. But putting God in the middle and giving all your stress and problems to Him will make the road nice quick and smooth.

So how does one go about putting God in the center of all?

That is an excellent question. In the past four months I have gotten so close to God. I have been closer to Him then I have ever been before. And to tell you the truth I have no idea how I got there. But here are a few things that will help you get there.

First I think we need to accept that God is there. We need to realize that He cares for us. That He wants the best for us and watches out for us. Next we need to spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Read to Him out of His Word. Go on walks with Him. Bike with Him. Listen to music with Him about Him. Third, we need to start devoting ourselves to Him. Ask to guide a certain situation. Give it all to Him and watch Him work. As you continue to see His work and entrust more and more, bigger and bigger things with Him. Ask Him to lead your life every morning when you wake up giving up all your troubles to Him. Lastly, start being an example of Him. Shine His glory through yourself to others. Ask God to help you with this. Walk in Jesus' foot steps throughout the day. When something is not going as planned or wanted pray right there. Ask God for wisdom and guidance in the matter.

I believe this is how I have become so connected with God.

In 1 John 5:14,15 it says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him."

When I wake up in the morning and get in the shower and while I am in the shower what a better time then to talk to and with God. Right then and there in the shower I thank God for another day of life. I thank Him for the good nights sleep. I ask Him for wisdom throughout the day. I ask Him to guide my day and to help me walk in His foot steps. I ask that He will help me shine His glory in everything I do. That I may be a beacon of light for others. That other may see Him through me.

It is simple. Effective. And it takes no time out of your day. What else would you be doing in the shower? Singing a song? Why not do that as well?

Recently I have been in awe of the song "Hosanna" performed by "Starfield" the lyrics are so powerful and are like a prayer.

"I see the king of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest"

Another awesome so that has really gotten to me is Fernando Ortega's "Light of Heaven."

"The sky is raining tears tonight
My brother
You know it's hard to sleep
So far from home
The moon has covered up her eyes
My sister
I thought I'd find you here
But I am all alone
All alone

Light of Heaven
Lord of mercy
Shine the goodness
Of your love upon this day
Till we see you
Till we know you
Till the sorrow
And the darkness fade away
Fade away

I searched the city streets today
My father
The tunnel and the train
The river and the rain
I walked beneath the harbor lights
My mother
And in the shadows there
I call your name
I call your name

Light of Heaven
Lord of mercy
Shine the goodness
Of your love upon this day
Till we see you
Till we know you
Till the sorrow
And the darkness fade away
Fade away"

Most of the world today don't really think about God and especially putting Him in the center of all and the basis of all things. But what they don't know and understand is that by putting in the center of a relationship, work, school, or family can and WILL change Life As We Know It.

--AW