It is human nature to recognize the things we can see with our eyes and relate to them. We recognize cars and houses and form an opinion as to how we are going to relate to them. We also see and hear others and decide how we are going to interact with them – that is, how we are going to have a relationship with them.
But having a relationship with God is unique because we cannot see Him with our physical eyes. However, it is still possible to have a relationship with Him. This relationship is important for the following reasons:
- He created us (Jeremiah 1:5)
- He loves us (John 3:16)
- He wants to have a relationship with us (1 John 3:1)
- He wants to bless us (Psalm 1:1-3)
- He wants to give us eternal life (John 5:24)
The essence of having a relationship with God starts with repentance. We must first humble ourselves and recognize that we have sin in our lives and this sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). We then confess our sin to God. We say, “My God, I am a sinner and I confess my sin to you. I am sorry for my sin and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin so that I can start a new relationship with you both now and forever – in Jesus’ name.” You can pray this prayer and start your relationship right now with God! The next thing to do is to find a local church that preaches and teaches from God’s Word. Find one that you feel comfortable with, get to know the people, and attend church regularly. This will help build up your faith. You should also invest in a Bible, or perhaps your church might have one available. Spending time reading God’s Word daily is a good way to learn more about God and to further your relationship with Him. In addition, a good free resource for daily devotions can be obtained from inspiration.org. They can be sent automatically to your email or they can be obtained through the App. These devotions provide a daily verse from the Bible and a short discussion on how to make application from it. Spending time in prayer daily is also critical to maintaining one’s relationship with God. Just start with your eyes closed, confess your daily sin to Him, and ask Him for guidance for yourself and your loved ones. Eventually this will become a habit, and you will find that your faith in God has increased.
Remember, God loves you no matter what the circumstances are, and He never gives up on us no matter what happens – that’s divine love. He loves us so much that His Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins over 2000 years ago. That too is divine love. You have the assurance of God’s love from Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Praise God!