Would you like to feel Gods presence and walk hand in hand with Him today? Imagine it! Picture it in your mind. Doesn’t that bring forth a smile. God wants a relationship with you.
That implies participation by 2 parties- you and God.
God made you. Yes, he is Father who created you, yet for those who believe in Him he is our Abba Father.
His constant presence reaps benefits you cannot possibly imagine!
Ask yourself – How is your relationship with God? and with Others? Loving? Joyful?
Do you know him? A little? A lot? Not at all?
Is your life marked more by peace or turmoil? Or Joy and Love or anxiety and stress perhaps sadness?
Your life will change if you earnestly Seek Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Trust Him.
If you do not know God, read God is Love and How to Receive Eternal Salvation
I don’t know your story. You may be a Christian that has wandered away from God. Perhaps you are so busy that there is no room for God right now.
It can happen to all of us. We are not perfect. We sin.
Yet without God real peace is missing. That is true for me.
It’s not possible to truly Love God, yet love the world we live in more than we love God!
the Bible says: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38).
I wander.
Sometimes my heart is not in the right place. I allow “life” and the things competing for my attention and affection to overtake my desire for God.
Other “priorities” to creep into my life. That can be a sad reality. What am I doing? Perhaps that happens to you. Do you allow your relationship with God to be less than he or you desire?
Other times I am steady, worshipful, prayful and seeking fellowship with God. It is wonderful. I am full of His love, joy and peace.
What do you and I do when this happens? Be honest. Look at you life. Recognize where you have place you priorities. When you have strayed away from loving God, worshipping Him, serving Him and having fellowship with other Christians… Come back to Him.
How? Where to start? PRAY
Prayer is simply talking to God.
You are probably good at talking, whether to yourself or others, so this should not be hard.
Begin your day with God (before you look at your phone – sound familiar?)
A quiet place is always best. Jesus often withdrew to pray in a quiet place.
Prayer is just talking to God. It does not have to be formal. Just chat with God at both a regular time and place and also throughout the day. There are so many opportunities– moments during your day to pause and talk to him.
Just praying once a day, checking the box “yep I prayed today”, won’t produce the eternal fruit God desires.
–Praise Him for the beauty of His creation as you enjoy the sun shining on your face, a peach tree in bloom or a red bird flying across your garden.
–Ask God for His wisdom before you make a decision.
–Ask God to forgive you for bad behavior (hmmm- yes, take a look at yourself).
Remember your thoughts can be sins. Perhaps you “murder someone in your heart” by criticizing them privately in your mind”
–Pray for others
–Thank Him for something– cultivating a heart of thankfulness. I try to begin each day with a list of “5 Things I Am Thankful For”.
I send the list to my boys. They text me their list.
–Pray for a better relationship with someone. Ask God to help you instead of relying only upon yourself.
These are the kinds of every day occurrences that you can talk to God about.
And remember “He is always with you”. Matthew 28:20
Read
1) Read the Bible. Learn more here. God is speaking to you.
You can have a bible on your phone! Click here for my favorite Bible APP
2) Read a Devotional as a way to nurture your spiritual growth. Set apart some quiet time to reflect upon God, his word and how it applies to you and your life.
Consider your spiritual maturity when selecting a devotional. If you are a new believer or a mature believer there are different types of devotionals best suited to your unique needs.
A Christian bookstore is a great place to search for the right book for you. Or search online. There are different categories of devotionals such as mediation or devotionals for kids, teens, women or men. Some devotionals have journals while others devotionals cover a specific topic or a book of the bible such as the Psalms.
Suggestions:
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Jesus Calling. This is better for a mature believer familiar with the Bible. This book is not written by a theologian.
Remember the Bible is the only source of the truth. Jesus Calling does provide nice inspirational meditations. Even my teenage sons like this devotional. We read the iPhone APP version on our way to school. Click here for the APP -iPhone, iPad or Android. Buy the book. Click here to buy it on Amazon. Or read it online.
3) Research a Topic Online. Ask a theological question online. GotQuestions.org is a fantastic resource for questions about the Bible.
Get your kids involved in asking questions. Check out GotQuestions? KIDZ– website designed to answer kids questions God and the Bible.
Listen to the Bible.
Listen as your drive. Listen at your desk. Listen on your iPhone as you workout (great for a long run).
Get an APP that reads the Bible to you. Pretty nifty! Check it out at Holy Bible by LIfeChurch.tv
Listen to podcasts or radio broadcasts of sermons.
I love Truth for Life by Alistair Begg. Click here or their Broadcast page or get the APP
Watermark Community Church is another resource. Click here for their Media page, then choose a Series then choose a Message. Watch or listen.
Think and Ponder
Take time to think deeply and carefully about Bible passages or verses you have read or heard.
What is God saying to you?
I suggest always praying for God’s wisdom Isaiah 55:8-9 and for discernment Proverbs 3:21, along with a willing heart to understand what he desires for you.
Ask God for help with the practical application of his teaching to your life.
He will teach you and change your heart.
Wouldn’t you like to produce eternal fruit for His Kingdom (not always fruit for your personal kingdom?)
Attend Church. This is vital.
We are meant to worship with others and be in community with one another as a family of believers. Join a Bible Study or Sunday School class.
Summary – The Bottom Line
Having a personal relationship with God begins the moment :
1) Each of realizes our need for Him
2) We admit we are a sinner, as are all of us (not one of us is perfect or holy. Only God is perfect and Holy)
3) In Faith you accept and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
We start a new kind of life at that point.
Read How to Receive Eternal Salvation
Click here for more about “What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?“
Spend your day hand in hand with Him. Psalm 73:23
Ask yourself, How is my relationship with God?
Is it intimate, loving, nourishing, joyful?
For me personally, I need God to change me for His goof and eternal purposes. I cannot do it without Him.
Can you? Really?
I hope this post in some way is helpful to you. It helps me just to write it!! I desire to Love God rightly (Mark12:30), walk humbly (Micah 6:8) and serve God first, on a consistent basis, instead of the mindless, selfish serving of myself.
I often fail but God is working in me as I seek Him more and more.
To God be the Glory! – Julie
Bible Verses and a note about Praying
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. –Psalm 139:9-10
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. –Psalm 145:18
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,”plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
-Jeremiah 29:11-13
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; – Galatians 5:22-23
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.- James 1
*Note about Praying
1) I always try to pray before I read or listen to God’s word.
2) I often ask him:
– to “hide his word in my heart”. Psalm 19:11
– for eyes to see Psalm 119:18
– for ears to hear Ezekiel 12:2
– to see the “log in my own eye” Matthew 7:3 (working on pride)
– for His Will not my Will to be done
– for His wisdom not mine
and so much more….
I would love your recommendations!
Please comment or email me to share your favorite Devotionals, Christian APPS, Christian websites and resources to help us all.
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