When we speak of a relationship with God, what does that mean? Why is it important? What can disrupt our relationship with God? How can we grow closer in our relationship with God?
“Effective prayer is the fruit of a relationship with God, not a technique for acquiring blessings.”
“To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him.”
God wants a relationship with us.
God desires true intimacy with His children. He wants us to understand the infinite depths of His love. He wants us to cry out to Him, “Abba!” (Daddy!).
- “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6)
- In Jesus, “we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” (Ephesians 3:12)
- He wants us to “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)
1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, for who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
Just like healthy relationships with our spouses, friends, and family, a relationship with God is characterized by frequent communication and experiencing His faithful and loving presence. How do we communicate with God? Through prayer and through His Word, the Bible.
Prayer involves several aspects of communication. When we sing hymns and worship songs, it’s a type of prayer because we are singing to Him! Prayer involves repentance and confession of sin, which can disrupt our relationship. Through prayer, we bring our own needs, concerns, and anxieties – and those of others – before God, asking for His guidance and intervention
- “Let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” Hebrews 4:16
- “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
- “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:1
Why is a relationship with God important?
God made us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). He didn’t make any of the other animals in His image, but He created us to be like Him! Why? For relationship! Relationship with God is the most important relationships you will ever have.
Repeatedly, through the Bible, God calls Himself our Father. And He calls us His children.
- For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15)
- “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)
- “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
Relationship with God is important because it determines our eternal future. Our relationship with God begins when we repent and confess our sins and receive Christ as our Savior. If we do that, our eternal future is life with God. If not, we face eternity in hell.
The problem of sin
Sin destroyed God’s intimate relationship with Adam and Eve, and through them, the entire human race. When they disobeyed God, and ate the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world, along with judgment.
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name.” (1 John 2:12) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
When we do sin, we should be quick to confess our sin to God and repent (turn away from the sin). Think about the relationship between husband and wife. If one spouse lashes out in anger or otherwise hurts the other, they are still married, but the relationship isn’t as happy as it could be. When the guilty spouse apologizes and asks forgiveness, and the other forgives, then they can enjoy a fulfilling relationship. We need to do the same when we sin, to enjoy all the blessings to experience in our relationship with God.
Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.
Examples of relationships with God in the Bible
Jesus: Even though Jesus is God, when He walked the earth as a man, He was intentional in making His relationship with God the Father His chief priority. Over and over, we read in the Gospels that He withdrew from the crowds and even His disciples and slipped away to a quiet place to pray. Sometimes it was late at night or early in the morning, when it was still dark, and sometimes it was all night (Luke 6:12, Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46).
David – He used to speak with God in all the situations. Even though when he committed sin, he never hides himself from God because he knows God can see wherever he goes. He used to confess his sins and surrendering him to God.
You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you Psalm 69*5
TESTIMONY
During my first days of salvation, I used to pray and worship all the time and speaking to God always. When I was pregnant for my second child, I used to spend more time to God. Since my mother was sick, I could not have any help after my delivery. So, I used to ask only normal delivery since I was helpless. When I get delivery pain God speak to me directly like don’t want to go the hospital where I gone for nine months. But I never obey to Gods words I went to the same hospital where I gone for nine months. The tragedy happened in my life. Girl baby born to me by operation not by normal delivery. Too much blood loss I faced many problems in my body. I used to quarrel and cry to Lord because he never heard my prayer. He answered to me I spoke to you strictly not to go the respective hospital. At that time only I could understand not only prayer alone obedience to God’s word is very important in our life. Relationship is not only praying alone it is obedience, A complete obedience to Gods word.
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT ONLY PRAYER ALONE IT IS A COMPLETE OBEDIENCE WITHOUT ANY ARGUMENT ACCEPTING THE GODS WORD AND START TO ACT IMMEDIATELY.
Sol. A. JOTHI KUMARI
