Building A Deep Relationship With God Through Prayer.
In this article, you will be exposed to how to start, build and maintain a quality, deep relationship with God and also share different verses from our bible study, quotes from notable preachers through their sermons.
Getting to know God, through our personal relationship with him is highly rewarding. We all get too engrossed with our daily routine or activities that we unknowingly drift away from God.
The good thing is, God, is ever-present, ever knowing and ever-loving, this makes building a relationship with him very profitable as he remains the same forever. Unlike the case of humans who can become unpredictable but God remains the same yesterday, today and forever.
There’s so much to gain from him as a person that we just take it and him for granted.
Starting and recognizing the need to have a relationship with God is the foundation to getting to know God closely.
The Steps And Ways of Starting A Relationship With God.
We lost the real definition to the meaning of life without a real relationship with God. This is because we fail to realize that having to build and maintain a deep relationship with God is a vital piece of human existence and experience.
In the earlier stage of our lives, we get so engrossed with our physical appearance, probably thinking of getting married and how glorious the day is going to be; so much that we forget the most important aspect and most important relationship that we need to have, our relationship with God.
We figure out that we need to start or build up a relationship or a family and forget that we also need to start and maintain a relationship with our heavenly Father (God).
Let’s not forget what the bible made us understand, that we should remember the things of the lord in the days of our youth – Ecclesiastes 12:1 and the best way for young people to keep their way pure is to hearken unto the word and voice of God – Psalm 119:9.
We have strength in our youth doesn’t mean even at our old age, we still can’t have a relationship with God. But to those that have finally taken the bold step of starting a relationship with God, big congratulations to you.
Now, let’s talk about the steps to take when starting a relationship with God.
- Believe and confess:
It all starts with our belief and deep understanding of who God is. “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” – Hebrews 11:6.
More than just believing in the existence of God, we must also trust in him for our salvation and that means you coming through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Here is the point where you have a solidified conviction – John 1:12 in the person of Jesus Christ, the one to whom you’re surrendering ushers you into His love, mercy and forgiveness.
Seeking for his repentance Romans 3:23 made us understand that the default state of every man is sin. This is as a result of Adam’s sin; Man was alienated from God. He became enemies with God – Romans 5:12, 19. It is worthy to note that this enmity was one-sided (it was on man’s side).
Man could no longer relate to God as friends – Ephesians 2:12.
Note that you can’t want to start a relationship with God and fail to admit that you are a sinner. The first step in starting a relationship with God is believing in him and admitting that you are a sinner.
- Believe that Jesus died for your sins
Our heavenly Father had sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross of Calvary to wash away our sins – John 3:16. He loves us so much that he gave up his son. That shows how deep his love is for us.
We take all these for granted because we don’t know the true meaning of the word Love. God had to reconcile man back to himself and in doing this, Romans 5:8 says that “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.“
God has shown us this love and wants to show us more if only we believe that he died for us.
- Confess him as your Lord and personal saviour
After going through the first and second step, the next thing you need to do is Romans 9:10-11, “And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)”
Which made us understand that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that we will be saved. It made us understand that we have to confess our way to our salvation.
If you really want to be saved and start a relationship with our heavenly father, we have to layout our confessions and believe in our heart that he is the only true God.
- Total submission
When starting a relationship with God, the first thing that comes to mind is “What do I need to do?” You’ve followed the rules, you attended church services. But, these activities don’t make us full disciples. We all want to enjoy his favour, his blessings, his love, etc. but, have we surrendered fully to him? We get this and more only when we dedicate and surrender our lives to him.
The bible made us understand that “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;“ – Romans 3:23. We have to purge ourselves of everything that makes us unholy in his presence. We have to come before him holy and blameless. When we dedicate our lives to Him, we become new creatures and our sins are being washed away.
Our old life dies and we begin a new life afresh in him. John 3:16 shows us how God has so much love for us that he had to give up his only son to die for us all on the Cross of Calvary. He has been so merciful to us that gave his son to take away our sins only if we believe in him.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord“ – also made us understand that sin separates us from Christ but God has had that gap covered up by dying on the cross for us.
Maintaining a deep relationship with God has to come with our total openness to him. We don’t just build the relationship just for the sake of knowing him, but for also leading others to him. Always believe in him for he is the key to all things.
How Do I Build, Maintain A Deep And Quality Relationship With God?
Getting to build a relationship with God is as simple as building up friendship ties with a person. The only difference is you become a part of Christ (Christ-like) and you start enjoying his blessings.
In building, maintaining a deep relationship with God, There are ways or steps you need to follow to achieve this.
Like human relationships, it usually takes an investment of time and attention and love. We should know Our God is a jealous God and also deserve our attention. But, it’s up to you to take the initiative of moving closer to God.
Make a Decision
It all starts with you as a person. You have to come in terms with yourself that you really want to start building that deep relationship with God.
The fact that you have decided on yourself, you must first choose to believe that an intimate relationship with God is all possible before you can enter into such a relationship. So for everything, spiritually speaking – is a product of one’s faith.
Amos 3:3 states, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
The first step to any relationship is deciding that you want that relationship so to know God and build a relationship with him one has to be decisive.
You can not seat on the fence in this regard. You can not hop in and out of sin.
The bible made us understand in Exodus 20:5 that our God is a “Jealous God”.
The book of Matthew 6:24 is quite direct on this position.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
A relationship with Jesus should not be one-sided. Jesus makes this clear when He says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” – John 14:23.
Making a decision will help you start to build and maintain a deep relationship with God.
Decide you want to know him!
Talk with God – Prayer
Communication is a vital key to get closer to God. It involves you acknowledging that he does exist and that God loves you so much to have sacrificed his son Jesus on the cross for our sake.
Talking with God involves you opening and pouring out your heart to him. Prayer creates this intimate relationship between you and God. With prayer, you create an atmosphere for interaction, guidance, wisdom and the power to lead an overcoming Christian life.
In prayer, you confess your sins and make your supplication known to God.
David was a man after God’s own heart. He enjoyed a very close friendship with God which are recorded in the prayer and songs in the book of Psalms. David’s faith wasn’t seen as a formal religion. He had worshipped God with boundless enthusiasm and reverent awe, with thanksgiving and request-making, with joy and with heartbroken tears.
You can’t think of building a deep relationship with God without you getting to have a close and deep connection with our heavenly Father through prayers. So God is knocking on the doors of our hearts, pleading and waiting for us to welcome Him in.
Prayer is one of the biggest instruments we have for opening up our lives and letting Him know that He is highly welcome.
You have to open your heart and mouth and have a one-on-one conversation with God.
RELATED POST: 8 Important Prayers To Pray
Connect with God
For one to connect with God, you need to learn who he is and this involves studying his word: “The Bible” and not just reading about him but also meditating in his word.
The whole book is a love letter sent to you by our heavenly father so he can keep in touch with us but the best way for you to acknowledge him is to read and study along with him. Don’t just read for the sake of reading, also send an invitation message to God to grant you understanding and allow his words to come alive in you.
The book of Joshua 1:8 made us understand “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.“ Don’t just read about him but also meditating in his word.
Every relationship involves getting to know the next person but in this case; God already knows you and You need to connect to him so you can get to learn about him and acknowledge the Trinity: “God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. So study to show yourself approved!
Being connected to God also involves acknowledging and giving thanks, listening, talking to God, meditating and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ask him to speak to you through his word and open up your heart to him.
This is an assured way to maintain a solid and firm relationship with God.
Being Christ-Like (Born Again)
A lot of people get confused on this part. Firstly, what does it mean to be Born Again? It refers to a change in our heart, from being indifferent or hostility towards God to a newfound love for Him and a desire to live out His best for us.
Jesus while teaching, a Pharisee named Nicodemus asked a question about the matters of the Kingdom and deep relationship with God, John 3:1-8.
In Verse 3, Jesus said unto him, “, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In Verse 5 of that same scripture, Jesus explains what it means to be born again, “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God”
We ask the question, Why Do I Need to Be Born Again?
Note that before been born again, we are being led by our human thoughts, such as our fleshy desires.
Truth be told, nothing that you have in the of fleshy desires, is capable of serving God. The desire of the flesh does not lead you to the things of Christ or better still, to the life of Christ. You need to surrender all to be born of the spirit. It has to do with the rebirth of both the heart and the mind.
You become dead to the desires of the flesh and get awaken in the things of the spirit. The bible made us understand that if you are crucified in Christ, it is no longer I who live, but he who lives in me that is Christ. Truly we all have flesh and it craves for our attention and desires, but when you let go of the things of the flesh, it opens you up to the guidance of the spirit.
To build a relationship with God, you have to be born again, “Christ Like.”
A lot take this for granted. Being Christ Like is about you living a life that reflects features of Christ; holiness, loving others, preaching the gospel and keeping God’s Commandments at all times.
Your way of life could serve as a means to draws people towards. So, let others see Christ in you.
Staying Committed
The commitment of God’s people is vigorously challenged when it comes to facing hardship and adversity. Although our full commitment to our beliefs, goals, or significant to others may be very difficult at times, the meaningful pursuits of life are hardly ever easy.
Finding encouragement to stay committed could be difficult. Try to meet with other Christians and attend church as much as possible. This will encourage you and strengthen you. It is God’s will and desire that all His children come and fellowship together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.“
You need to constantly commune with God. Study his word, fellowship with him, stay in his presence, rely on him for direction and guidance.
When we pray, we pray that God will lead you to a fellowship where you will be able to worship and commune with others. There is great strength and power that we receive when we fellowship with each other. God made us dependent on each other because we are the body of Christ.
The body may function without one of its fingers but the finger cannot survive if it is severed from the rest of the Body.
You need to constantly commune with God. Study his word, fellowship with him, stay in his presence, rely on him for direction and guidance.
Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
A good relationship with God is a lifestyle that is always under attack by the devil and so one has to always be consistently rooted, ignoring all temptations that will arise and leading a faith-filled life and enjoying the powers that come from the holy spirit and the many benefit of living a righteous life.
Stay committed to God!
This steps listed above will serve as a guideline to help you build your desire relationship with God.
Make a Decision
Talk with God – Prayer
Connect with God
Being Christ-Like (Born Again)
Staying Committed
It all takes discipline and the strength from God to always stay Committed, but then, it all starts with you!
Commit your heart to build, maintain and sustain your relationship with God.
Written & Compiled By Princess Onyinye Barnabas
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