A Personal Relationship With GOD

Do you know GOD? Do you know His essence? Do you talk to GOD every day?

Your personal relationship with God is the most important relationship you will ever have. I believed in God my entire life but I didn’t know how to have a relationship with Him.

A lot of people shy away from Church because they think that GOD doesn’t like them or love them. This is due to the hard knocks that we all experience in life. I can testify that I was burdened with life’s tragedies early on in life. The trials and tribulations have never stopped coming for me but GOD! Just when I thought that GOD didn’t love me, He showed up and showed out in supernatural ways. He gave me joy in the midst of my pain! In fact, only devout believers would believe my testimony. With GOD, all things are possible. Our Daddy loves us in spite of us. GOD is love, grace, and mercy so don't be afraid to go to Him exactly as you are. He will meet you where you are.

God wants a relationship with you out of love. God isn’t about religion. He wants you to come to Him and spend time with Him out of love— not out of obligation.

To understand how to love God, you need to first understand how he loves you. God is love. God created love and shows us what love is through Jesus.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

God wanted to save us even in our sin. He did this by giving up His only Son for us. God wanted to reconcile us to Him. He wanted us to be set free from the power of sin. He wanted to forgive us and make us new.

Loving God becomes more natural the more you read the Bible and understand what God has done for you. As you read God’s Word, the more you’ll understand how much God loves you. When you are rooted in Christ and in his love for you, you’ll start to desire and love God more. As I was reflecting on what it means to have a personal relationship with God, I realized that God doesn’t actually use the term “relationship” in the Bible. He doesn’t tell us to have a relationship with Him. God tells us to love Him.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” – Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

God calls us to love him with all our heart, but how do we practically love GOD:

1. Go to Church. When Jesus comes back, He is coming back for His Church. The more you hear the Word, the more you begin to transform into the person He called you to be. Going to Church is going into the House of the LORD. He will surely meet you there.

2. Read the Bible. Again, you will see how much God loves His children when you read the Word. When you read how He parted the Red Sea for Moses and His children, you will know GOD saves His children because He loves His children.

3. Talk to GOD. You are His child. Therefore, it follows that God wants to hear from you. Let Him know that you desire to have a personal relationship with Him. He sees you!

4. Don’t beat yourself up for not being perfect. Don't let other people beat you up because they know you are still sinning but they see you going to Church. They may call you a hypocrite but the reality is sinners are sick people and we are all sinners! Sick people go to the hospital and our hospital is the Church. In addition, why listen to someone who isn't even showing an interest in knowing our Daddy. God created everybody. GOD said to go into the assembly of the LORD. So, who are you going to listen to? Someone who has turned their back on GOD or Your Heavenly Father who loves you. You will sin even when you are getting closer to God and while you know you are loving Him but we all get better with time. The goal is not to be sinless but to sin less, according to Pastor Kinloch of Triumph Church. We all fall short, which is in God's Word. No one is perfect except Jesus.

As for me, I just ask God for more grace and mercy in prayer. I know I’m still a sinner even though I love God. I’d rather be close to Him by doing those things to build a relationship with Him than be without Him altogether in this evil world. I need Him.

Here I am purposely engaging in living an inspired life!

Blessings,

Rachel Mason