"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
"They will receive the Lord's blessing and have a right relationship with God their Savior." Psalms 24:5 NLT
God wants a relationship with all of his children.
He wants to talk to you and guide you on the right path.
He even cares about your feelings and your desires.
God's relationship with each of his children are unique and special.
Here are some key elements to develop and strengthen your RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
ASK: God to come into your heart and accept him as your Lord and savior.
REMEMBER: Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, that you may have a right relationship with God and have eternal life through him. God loves you very much!
KNOW: That God wants his children, after this life, to live eternally in heaven with him. Your eternal destination is determined by your faith, actions and relationship with God.
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." 1 John 4:9 NLT
**** After you ask God into your heart and believe that Jesus Christ died for you, complete the following list daily, to strengthen your relationship with God. ****
1. Pray
Prayer is our direct connection to God. You can communicate with God and if you listen, God can communicate with you as well. Prayer is a time when you can worship God, thank God and ask for forgiveness for your sins. Also, you can tell God your worries, ask God to help you overcome your weaknesses and anything else that maybe on your heart. Choose a quiet place to pray and talk to God. Jesus teaches us how to pray in the bible, in Matthew 6: 9-13.
"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13 NLT
2. Practice Gratitude
When you are thankful for everything God has given you, this pleases him. Practicing Gratitude everyday keeps you focused on the blessings you do have, instead of what you do not have. When you are thankful for your blessings, this opens the door for you to receive more blessings. It is God's will for us to always be thankful.
"Never stop praying. Always by joyful. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
3. Read the Bible
God is amazing! He gave us a guidebook to help us get through life and it is called 'The Bible'. The Bible contains knowledge and wisdom for us to prosper in this life and ultimately reach our eternal destination in heaven! The YouVersion Bible App is a great app for anyone who wants to read the bible. This app also has many devotionals to teach, uplift and encourage you.
"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." Joshua 1:8 NLT
4. Join a Bible Based Church
Church is a great place to fellowship with other believers. It is a place of worship and learning more about God. There are many churches in the community (Google "churches near me") and online (YouTube). Here are some online church resources to help you get started:
"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:25 NLT
5. Love & Honor God
Some ways of honoring God includes:
- being led by the Holy Spirit
- living a life of goodness, peace and joy
- sharing with those in need
- loving others
- obeying his commandments
- having faith in God & his rewards
- worshipping him with holy fear and awe
When you honor God, this pleases him and expresses the love that you have for him.
"Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3 NLT
Developing a relationship with God is a beautiful experience.
This relationship will be the foundation in your Christian walk.
Whenever you are having trouble, call on God and remember your foundation.
I hope this post blesses you and helps you with your relationship with God!
Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
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