Building Your Relationship With God
I was born and raised a Christian; from the ages of 10-17 I went on a mission trip each year. My last mission trip when I was 17 was a Mission trip arranged by Marantha in conjunction with Peace of the Pie Ministries, called “The Ultimate Workout”. Every mission trip I have ever went on, including this one, was all for the wrong reasons. I did not go to glorify God, or to draw others to Christ; my main reasons were girls, fun, and girls, purely selfish reasons. However what set this trip apart from the rest was not the mission trip itself building churches and seeing people’s lives changed by God, it was the last 30 minutes at the airport as I waited for my plane there in Costa Rica’s airport.
While sitting there at the airport, I got to talking to a guy that was also waiting for the plane. I told him I was there on a mission trip and we were building churches and stuff. Then he started to ask me what I believed, and I told him what I believed, or at least what I had been taught to believe. I had always taken God for granted since I was surrounded by Christians everyday for the last 17 years of my life. Nevertheless he was not satisfied by my answers; he wanted to know why I believe what I Believe not just what I believe. It was all I could do to scrape up a few verses to try and keep from sinking in this conversation; finally the boarding call for the plane came I was “saved by the bell.”
I realized that I know of God, but I did not have a personal relationship with Him. I had never truly given my heart to God. All that was part of taking Him for granted. Even then I did not think about it to much, but that seed was planted in my mind.
When you give your life to God, you need to nurture the relationship, to truly learn and understand who He is. The only way you are going to nurture the relationship is by talking to him, and listening to his word; the Bible. Christ says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23. Just carrying the name Christian does not denote, nor signify a personal relationship with Christ.
The Bible compares our relationship with God as a groom and his bride. Now, if you get married and you never talk to your spouse again, or if you do all he talking and do not listen, how long do you think that relationship will last. I’ve been married now for 6 months 23 days, and I talk to my wife every day to strengthen our relationship. The Bible says “Do not deprive one another…, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.” 1 Corinthians 7:5. Incontinence means to withhold yourself from something. So to keep the relationship of marriage from failing husbands and wives are not to depriving one another of the use of their bodies, nor any other of the comforts of the conjugal state, appointed of God for keeping the vessel in sanctification and honor, and preventing the lusts of uncleanness. God, through Jesus Christ, has already given us his body; we as Christians are not to withhold our body from him, so that we may have an intimate relationship with God.
In the same way Satan can tempts us by our incontinence away from God. Satan is quite tricky; he can do it without you even knowing about it. Jeremiah 9:5-6 says, “And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.” Satan has many people deceived, they do not know God because they do not study the Bible, they think that just listening their pastors, and ministers will do the job. Yes it is good to listen to the council of your spiritual leaders; however the Bible says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 urges us to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” The Bible says that there are people, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:7. So what the Bible is telling us is that in addition to listening to our preachers we also need to study for ourselves to make sure what they are telling us is true. The Bible says “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
You just cannot give your life to God and be like, ok I can check that of my list of things to do, and go about your life as if nothing has happen. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “So that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!” “Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:5 CEV) “Such people claim to know God, but their actions prove that they really don't. They are disgusting. They won't obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good.” (Titus 1:16 CEV)
“For the Word of God is living, and powerfully working, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing,” straight to the heart of man (Hebrews 4:12 LITV). We as Christians need to pick up our swords so that we may “sanctify the Lord God in [our] hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] a reason of the hope in [us], with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15 MKJV) We need to stop looking to the media for guidance and start looking to Jesus.
When I was growing up I never really looked in the Bible with a hunger to learn the truth of whom God is, I thought I knew all I needed to know. But I need to sanctify the Lord God in my hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks me a reason of the hope in me, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15 MKJV). So that through the strength which God gives me, other people will be drawn to, and want to have the hope that only God can give them in there lives.
2006-06-17 18:13:50
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answer #1
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answered by Comsig12 1
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I do not know your personality but what ever helps you to develop a personal relationship with God.
If you pray, mean what you say and if you do not have words in the beginning, pray His word ( Bible verses )
I personally like to listen Bible on Cd's so I can accomplish more, but I own a many different kind of Bibles and I love to read it and underline and make notes.
When I realized that Worship is for God, it was easier for me to go to the church every week. And as I go to worship God, I have started to enjoy it so much that if I ever have to miss for any reason, I feel that something very important was missing from my life that week. Church is also hospital for sinners...so it is a good thing to have regular check ups...so nothing bad is not growing too big before stopped.
I like Bible studies a lot. I was told that no matter what size is the church,you will get to know only around 40 people. Our church asks us to break up to small groups. We normally meet at the home settings, but I attend also studies that are held at our church premises.
It is actually good to work the whole circle. Pray for wisdom.
2006-06-17 18:14:27
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answer #2
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answered by SeeTheLight 7
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Since He chose to communicate to you thru a letter that took 40
"secretaries" to complete in different lands over a period of 1600 years and, thru comparison with the early documents, exists to this day almost identical, miraculously surviving even the Medieval persecution, and since He got His son to abandon his most exalted heavenly position to come down here to earth and talk about this word and turn your attention to it, that's what He wants you to do!!! His son also empasized that there's difference between divine truth and personal claims ( see the sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5-7) and the way of salvation and that of popularity and that he is a God of order and organization who has always, from the beginning of his dealings with humans, directed his people thru a group or class of spiritual food dispensers and thus kept them universally united in the same beliefs and collective work directed by Him and His Christ. While he warned us that there'd be many pretending to be true followers, he also gave identifying marks that his true worshipers would fulfill such as producing the personality traits that are fruitage of God's spirit in contrast with the rest (Galatians 5: 9-22), not being part of the decadent world (John 15:19, 17:16, ! John 5:19 and being faithfully fed spiritually by the collective class of His Faithful and discreet Slave ( Matt. 24:46,46) while zealously participating in the main reason for the formation of the Christian congregation, that is the preaching about God's name and His Kingdom (Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 43:10-12,Matt. 24:13, 28: 19,20) among other things... Let me know if you need more details or scriptural references.
2006-06-17 18:35:20
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answer #3
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answered by Erasmia K 1
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At my church we've just talked about spiritual pathways. You should look for this book - "Sacred Pathways" by Gary Thomas. There are so many ways to grow closer to God! We so often get stuck in the "go to church, sing the songs, find quiet time with God" formula that we don't think about what really works for us. For example, your pathway to a stronger spiritual life might be through caregiving (that is mine). In that case, you will feel closer to God when you are volunteering or helping people in need. Other people may feel that activism is their way to be clsoer to God. (That's totally not me!) Definitely get that book or email me (there's a link in my profile here) if you want more information about different ways people can strengthen their relationship with God!
2006-06-17 17:55:22
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answer #4
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answered by jengirl9 4
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Focus on creating a personal relationship with God...through meditation or thoughtful prayer. If reading the Bible helps you to feel closer, by all means read it. If watching a sunset on an ocean beach does...whatever you do, know that you have the ability to find the closeness you desire.
Blessings, Rev Debi Brady
2006-06-17 18:02:32
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answer #5
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answered by Rev Debi Brady 5
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that depends if a person does not have access to the word of God he can get closer to the Lord by prayer and worship God can make a way. If a person has access to the bible but is just to lazy to read and study then no. 2Ti 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2016-03-15 08:02:37
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answer #6
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answered by ? 4
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Equal spiritual knowledge and devotion. You need both to get closer to God.
Praying, singing and talking to God is considered devotion.
2006-06-17 18:33:11
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answer #7
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answered by Amma's Child 5
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meditation of scripture and I don't mean weirdo meditation just thinking on scripture that you have memorized in the past. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt MEDITATE DAY and NIGHT that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou have good success
Before going to sleep is good to start because you end up having the best restful nights sleep
2006-06-17 17:55:53
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answer #8
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answered by Wendy 5
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believing in ur self and concentrating on everything that u do.negligence brings u down and hence must be eradicated.then u see the world with same eyes but ur vison changes.u will feel the satisfaction urself and that takes u closer to god which means that u have moved one step ahead in ur spiritual journey to the ultimate abode!
all other methods are fake (my opinion)and god`s methods are always simple!
2006-06-17 17:55:36
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answer #9
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answered by chris 3
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Well, the bible tells you that rich men shall not enter the Kingdom. I will be glad to help by taking all of your worldly possesions from and removing that temptation. The rest you will just have to rely on the holy rollers on here to help you. Guess i won't inherit the earth. I just ain't to meek.
2006-06-17 18:15:11
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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Put your Faith and Trust in the Lord. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. Ask, and it shall be given. Ask God to forgive you of all sins. Pray.Ask God to help you to resist all evil and temptation. read your Bible. Study the word of God. Ask Him for strength, and guidance. Go to church. Fellowship with your Brothers, and sisters in Christ. Seek God for the will of your life. Ask Him to draw you closer to Him. With God all things are possible.
2006-06-18 15:07:13
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answer #11
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answered by concerned 5
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