The Relationship

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.“
Jeremiah 29:12-13 NLT

There’s a relationship more important than any other. The one we have with God. Although this sounds obvious, many of us, though we believe the statement to be true, don’t act like it.

We don’t spend enough time with Him to have the kind of relationship He wants. We have reasons. We don’t know what to say. We’re tired. We’re busy. We’re overwhelmed.

When we make a commitment to include Him in our everyday life, by praying and reading the Bible, we learn about Him in a way only a personal relationship can provide. We feel confident in asking Him to help us with all manner of requests. Requests for guidance, protection and wisdom, for our loved ones and ourselves.

“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.” C.S. Lewis

This is a relationship beyond all others. We can’t hide behind our masks. We can’t fake it. We’re vulnerable. He knows all about us, like it or not.

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.“ (James 4:8 NLT)

There’s no fear that He will reject us or misunderstand us. He will never cast us out.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“ (Romans 12:2 NLT)

He patiently waits for us to come to Him, because He loves us more than we can begin to understand.

“One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far at other times. You should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.“ Brother Lawrence

When we take the time to pray and sit silently before Him, we’ll find our burdens suddenly lifted. We can tell Him everything. He already knows what we’re going to say.

“O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed.” A.W. Tozer