Building a Relationship With God

[Makoto]

I was raised in the church, and I've been baptised and working on building a closer relationship with God over the past few years, but I feel like it's never as strong as I would like it to be. It's not that I don't want to grow closer to Him, or that I feel like my faith is weak. I would like to say that I read my Bible often, and I try to pray at least once a day, but I feel like I get off track very frequently. I just feel like I want to be close to God, but I can never quite get to where I want to be, if that makes sense. Does anyone else feel this way? What are some things you guys do to stay focused?

 

[JRSut1000]

I think many of us can honestly say we're not where we want to be in our journey with the Lord. Sometimes it's a really good thing when it is in the context of "I just want more of Him and I can't get enough". This kind of thinking is great motivation to keep on drawing near since "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." But if the discontent is because we're backsliding or remaining complacent, then some soul-searching is always in order. Firstly, don't condemn yourself and allow your feelings keep you from running to him.

Here's a few encouragers to remember as you get back on track. There's no system or formula, I just use numbers cuz it helps me keep organized, haha.
1) He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion! (Eph 2:10 I think)
2) Set aside time for Him for prayer, worship, and praise and fellowship too!
3) He takes great interest in EVERYTHING you do. Don't measure drawing near to Him just in your 'spiritual' set-aside time. Whether you're taking a quick break at work, doing chores at home, or really anything He is interested! I absolutely love the passage where David marvels "Oh Lord you know everytying about me, when I sit, when I rise, etc." Read the whole chapter (Psalm 139). It's one of my favs!
4) Getting to know Him is awesome and you really can know Him more and more! It is attainable to have sweet intimacy and fellowship with our God and diligence in seeking Him is so important! "You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart" .Jeremiah 29:13 (don't you love that it follows the 'for I know the plans I have for you' verse?)

 

[BM84]

I've found that the only way I've become closer to God was when I put God above myself and everything else in my life. It's when you put your complete faith, trust, and your entire life in His hands when things truly begin to change in your life. You'll draw near to Him in a miraculous way and you'll see your relationship grow with Him instantly as you increase through prayer and obedience. I don't know if you've done all of this already. If you have, and you're still wondering...focus in on what's getting you off track. Is it other people? Circumstances? Whatever it is, try to figure it out...and of course, once you do--start addressing it. Pray about it. God is faithful. Your heart is in the right place!

 

[Makoto]

JRSut1000 - I never really thought of it in the context of never getting enough, that made me see things from a new perspective. I also really liked the chapter in Psalm. It made me feel a little better to remember that even if I feel like I'm not doing a good enough job, God still knows what's in my heart and knows that I want to be closer to Him

BM84 - It's funny that you mentioned giving God the wheel when things are changing, because I'm going through some pretty big changes in my life right now. I've just started my career, I'm trying to save up to move out, and my long-time boyfriend and I are kinda re-evaluating our relationship. I've really been struggling with some of the decisions that I need to make, and I think in a way it's what has made me take a closer look at my relationship with God, and that it's also, in a way, what's been pulling me away, because I get so caught up in everything. Maybe part of the issue is that I've been trying to hard to be in control.

 

[rturner76]

Something I do alot is just check in with God often daily just about decisions I'm making like "I wonder if this is what God would want me to do" just as a way of developing my conscience. So I can more easily let my conscience be my guide. Then I get into a WWJD mindset and I find a lot of peace with how I am dealing with things, knowing I am doing the best I can and I feel like God is pleased with me for the most part but of course I do things I know I shouldn't and must ask for forgiveness when I pray. I read the Bible more often then I used to an I really look for things to apply to my life.

I dunno, that just a couple things I try to do but we all have our ways to relate to our higher power.

 

[Makoto]

I think those are both good ideas. Studying the Bible more often is definitely something I need to work on. I think relating to it, like you said, will help me to think of things I could be doing differently in my life.

 

[Sketcher]

My prayer is to love God as he would have me love him.

Also, when the Holy Spirit really prompts you to do a good word or a good deed, obedience is good for your relationship with God, and disobedience is of course bad for it. Obedience is one of God's love languages (John 14:21). As you show love to God, he trusts you with more of himself - not unlike a person, as God is three Persons in one being.

 

[eachallberg]

Being a follower of Christ he called them to be disciplined (Disciples).

Keep a Bible by your alarm clock and try to read even just one verse when you wake up and before you go to sleep, and not to mention through out the day. Set your clock radio station to a Christian one, and stay connected.

Another way to stay focused is pray to the Father at any given moment, in the middle of eating, walking out the door, mindless moments at work, ect.
But, remember not to forget to pray like advised in Matthew 6:6.

Anything getting in between God and you, pluck it out, or cut it off.
Get rid of possessions, because it hinders Spirit and Truth.

The first shall be last, and what goes down must come up.
Don't go up because that is how we fall and break into pieces.

A broken heart, and a sad face. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing because repentance leads to witness the Light.

...the Holy Spirit really prompts you to do a good word or a good deed, obedience is good for your relationship with God, and disobedience is of course bad for it. Obedience is one of God's love languages (John 14:21). As you show love to God, he trusts you with more of himself...

Yes, agreed. Obedience is a trait of the Disciple.
God is Love.

Peace be to all of you.

 

[Makoto]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I think it's all very good advice