Too often, people assume God will not respond to their prayers or cries in the night. But we are joined to God by life, essence, and consciousness. We are connected. Ask the Lord to come to you and then be receptive. The problem is usually our lack of spiritual awareness and an ego which ignores the promptings of the soul.

Sri Ramakrishna, the great yogi from the nineteenth century, came to help humanity find greater happiness and fulfillment. He taught that if we enter into a relationship with the Lord of our heart, many possibilities become available. But how do we go about having a deeper relationship with God? Humility is often the answer.

How does a devotee receive unconditional love? There are several states on the way to pure love: faith (shraddha); single-minded devotion to your ideal (nishta); ongoing devotion (bhakti); and relationship with God (bhava). Love grows and grows. It is dynamic.

What is it like to be a bhakta, a lover of God? Bhaktas have tender feelings for God and all living creatures. They know what pain and suffering is like and, in their compassion, they want to help bring spiritual light into the world. How do you know if you are a bhakta?

Life happens day by day. Life is based on how you spend your days, one at a time. How much love, joy, care, wisdom, kindness, creativity and gratitude fill each day? Are you truly open to Spirit and yoga?

Sri Ramakrishna taught that to live without a vision of God is to live entirely in vain. He taught that, as people, we crave to relate to God personally and that we can see God spiritually. Learn meaningful concepts that allow us to realize our true nature and prepare for a vision of the Lord.

The Bible says no man can see God. Yet the great yogi Sri Ramakrishna taught that to live without seeing God is to live totally in vain. How do yogis reconcile this? We are created by the Divine, we have Divine consciousness within us, and it is this Divine presence of God within us that can see the Lord. Discover several ways to prepare for a vision of God.

How do we grow in faith? Faith is a powerful cause which brings new effects into our lives. With the blessing of faith, we find a deep conviction of the reality of Spirit. As our faith develops, it helps bring the Divine into manifestation.

The conclusion of the series:  You Can Choose Your State of Mind. Many people think the one-pointed state of mind is all they need but there is more.

This is part five of a six-part series on You Can Choose Your State of Mind. Is it easy and natural for your mind to be gathered and focused? Can you think about anything you want? Discover how you can be successful and fulfilled in every aspect of life by becoming established in the one-pointed state of mind.