How Is Your Relationship With God?

In the Experiencing God workbook it talks about the “seven realities of experiencing God”:

1. God’s Work
2. Relationship
3. Invitation
4. God Speaks
5. Crisis of Belief
6. Adjust
7. Obey + Experience

In the Bible study I am in with some other friends, this is one of the things we discussed. I shared how hard No. 6 on this list is. Reality No. 6 says we must make major adjustments in our lives to join God in what He is doing. Why is that so hard?

As I started to focus more on the list,  I realized that No. 2 was sticking out to me. Relationship: God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.

How is my relationship with God? Not where it could be and it’s from the lack of effort on my part. My relationship with my wife is strong because I put time and effort into it. Just because we are married doesn’t mean we stop there, as is just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we stop there. I am reminded of Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Which gets me to think how deep my roots are and how dependent am I upon the vine, which is Christ?

We must always remember that God is Abba (father). And in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Christ’s blood was shed for me and for you. God created us and pursues a relationship with us. Ever look out at the stars? Gazed across the seas? I mean sometimes I feel so small and sometimes I feel so unworthy (like Moses in Exodus) but still God pursues a relationship with me? Sometimes this freaks me out.

I will end this with a prayer from Matthew 6:5-15: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.