There is no doubt that the connection we have with God is the most vital relationship in our lives. It strengthens us and helps us live a meaningful life amid our challenges and difficulties. However, our relationship with God is far from perfect. Some days, we feel incredibly near to God, as if He is right next to us. On some days, it seems as if God is very far away from us.
So, what exactly does it mean to have a relationship with God[1]? What does the Scripture say about achieving the kind of relationship that God desires? And how can we grow our relationship with Him?
Contents
Does God Want To Have A Relationship With Us?
God, our creator, has always wanted to form a connection with us. He asks us to “come near” to Him, and He’ll do the same and come near to us (James 4:8). As He promises in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In line with this, God intended to have an eternal, loving relationship with man. Even before Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 3), he and Eve had an intimate, personal relationship with Him. They spoke directly to God and walked with Him in the garden, but because of man’s sin, God distanced Himself and disconnected from us.
What Kind Of Relationship Does God Want?
God Almighty desires a relationship based on the family bond He established. God is our Father, and men are to be His children, following in the footsteps of Jesus, the firstborn Son. In connection with this, Jesus taught His followers to address God as “Heavenly Father,” as seen in Matthew 6:14, 26, 32; 5:16, 45, 48.
God wants a home. He wishes to exalt numerous children and have eternal life with him. As Hebrews 2:10 says, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
What Does It Mean To Have A Relationship With God?
Our relationship with God begins when we recognize our need for Him, when we confess that we are sinners, and when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Messiah. Likewise, having a connection with God requires faith in Him to bring us through every day and to believe that God is the source of all things.
To have a lasting relationship with God, we must incorporate Him into our daily lives. We must pray to Him, read the Bible, and ponder on verses to learn about Him better. We must ask God for wisdom and enlightenment (James 1:5), which is perhaps the most important gift we can have. Moreover, we must bring our demands to Him in the name of Jesus (John 15:16), who loved us enough to offer His life (Romans 5:8), and lessen the gap between God and us.
The Importance Of A Relationship With God
Having a meaningful relationship with God through Jesus Christ can be profoundly transformative and enriching. It brings a sense of comfort and support during challenging times, offering solace and reassurance that one is never alone in their struggles.
Finding Comfort And Support
In moments of despair or uncertainty, turning to God provides a source of strength and hope. The belief in a higher power allows us to release our burdens and find comfort in the knowledge that there is a divine plan beyond our comprehension.
Gaining A Sense Of Purpose
A relationship with God through Christ Jesus imparts a profound sense of purpose to life. It instills the belief that each one of us has a unique role to play in the grand tapestry of existence, which fosters a deep sense of fulfillment and direction.
Developing Inner Strength And Resilience
Faith in God helps us develop resilience in the face of adversity. Trusting in a higher power can empower us to endure challenges with fortitude, knowing that they are part of a more profound and meaningful journey—our journey to eternal life.
Simple Ways To Develop A Relationship With God
1. Through Jesus
To establish a close relationship with God, human beings need to become like Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, changing the way we behave, talk, and engage with others to mirror what Jesus did. Through him, we can embrace God’s grace and wisdom.
In Matthew 5, 6, and 7, Jesus Christ, as the Father in the flesh, taught the way to a genuine relationship with God, which is seen as the heart of Christianity.
Additionally, we can improve our relationship with God by practicing what Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Jesus reiterated the same thing once more in verse 21: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Most importantly, we should honor God in everything that we do.
2. By The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit becomes available to those who sincerely wish to receive Jesus Christ. He is the one who never leaves the hearts of Christians. He gives us advice, teaches us the truth, and transforms our souls.
Without the all-powerful Holy Spirit, we would be vulnerable to battles of evil and temptation. But now that we have Him, we can begin to bear the fruits of surrendering to the Spirit’s control: love, patience, joy, peace, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, self-control, and gentleness (Galatians 5:22–23).
3. Through The Word Of God
We should communicate with God to strengthen our connection with Him. God talks to us and meets us through the Holy Bible, and we talk to Him through prayer. If we fail to make the Bible the center of our lives, ignorance and sin could twist our relationships. To avoid this scenario, the relationship should be based on unity: us to Him, and Him to us.
5 Ways To Deepen Your Relationship With God
1. Study God’s Word
Learn about God through the Bible because His Word is how God presents Himself to us; there is absolutely no better method to learn about Him. As Isaiah 40:8 points out, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
2. Pray To God
Just like in any other relationship, we must spend time speaking and listening to God. We can always start praying using the Psalms. The Psalms encompass the entire spectrum of human experience and feelings and guide us closer to God in any situation. We, like the Psalmist, can cry out to the Lord, believing that He hears us and will reply in love (Psalm 17:6–7).
3. Obey God
Before Jesus Christ died, He informed His disciples, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). In John 15:10, he also said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
We obey God because we love him. The Bible lays out standards for engaging with our parents (Ephesians 6:1–2) and individuals we disagree with (Romans 14:1-21). As a result, it urges us to seek what is good (Philippians 4:8–9) and be modest and kind (Colossians 3:12), which will give us everlasting life with our loving Father.
4. Serve Others
Just as our heavenly Father loves us, we too must love those around us—even when it is difficult or when the people around us make it impossible to love (1 John 4:19). As a Bible-believing church, caring for and serving those around us teaches us how to love other people as well. Let us try and try again, even though we do not often feel like doing it. In doing so, we will draw closer to God’s heart and live out our purpose as God’s children.
5. Give Thanks To God
In order not to hurt our relationship with God, it’s important to appreciate God’s love and the various treasures He has bestowed upon us. God has blessed us with the morning sun, the air we breathe, and the laughter of a loved one.
But among all the gifts given to us, Jesus is the most important one—the ultimate expression of his love, as written in 1 John 4:9: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” Jesus gave his life for us, so that we may be free.
Regardless of who you are, God is eager to bless you and help you find eternal life and happiness. Jesus promised, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). Hence, we ought to live with gratitude and joy every single day.
Conclusion
A meaningful relationship with God is a transformative and rewarding journey. It offers comfort, purpose, and resilience during life’s trials and tribulations.
We are called to pray often, read the Bible, and follow the Word of God, as these actions will allow us to nurture a deeper relationship with God. The only way to establish a connection with God is to trust Him to help us through each day and believe He is the source of life.
Furthermore, God demonstrates His deep desire to accept us as His glorified children and Him as our Heavenly Father as part of the home He’s building for His eternal family. So, what will you do to deserve this relationship with God?