The Key to a Deeper Relationship with God
Intentionally seeking God's presence
In the busy hustle and bustle of our daily lives, connecting with God often gets relegated to the background. But, to truly commune with Him, we must actively pursue His presence, which is to be in close proximity with God, near to God, near to His teachings and near to His Word. It requires both proximity and intentionality. This connection doesn't just happen; we must consciously create it.
The Proximity to God
Drawing near to God is like moving closer to a fire on a chilly night. As we move closer, we feel its warmth, see its light, and smell the woodsmoke - becoming wrapped in the fire's reality. Similarly, proximity to God means immersing ourselves in His teachings and His word, letting His presence guide our thoughts and actions.
Intentionality in Action
Connecting with God is an active pursuit that requires effort and determination. Here are a few things you can do to cultivate this intentionality:
God's Word: Learn and say what God’s Word is saying and when in a challenging situation, say aloud what His Word is saying.
Meditation: Make time to meditate on His word, deliberate its meaning, and let its wisdom infiltrate into your consciousness.
Dialogue with God: Undertake to recognize God's presence in every situation and engage in continuous conversation with Him.
Give thanks to God: Thanking Him constantly for what He has done for you and in your life. Most of all thank Him that He has come to earth to die for your sins. That should be the main thought in your mind every day.
Watch Your Words: Scrutinize your language. Avoid negative and vulgar expressions as they can distance you from God's presence.
Mind Your Thoughts: Monitor your thought patterns and work to remove envy, pride, or inappropriate desires.
Just be with God: Try to find quiet moments where you can just be in His presence without any conversation or requests.
An Ever-Present God
God is omnipresent – He exists everywhere, in every moment. He is in every breath you take, every person you meet, and every experience you have. God is! How do you act in God's presence, what do you say in His presence, what do you think in His presence. Understanding this omnipresence and acknowledging it in your thoughts, words, and actions is key to truly feeling God's presence in your life.
Laying a Strong Foundation
Nothing is more important than having a solid foundation because a poor foundation makes for unstable buildings. Wisdom and revelation are a solid foundation that we can build our lives on. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:17 that the purpose of the Spirit’s wisdom and revelation is so that we can know God better. Because knowing God is a fundamental part of our spiritual life.
We were created to have a relationship with God - to know Him and to love Him. To know God is the foundation for a strong spirit filled life. Yes, we can know God at a basic level, which is just the facts. But what Paul is talking about is a knowledge that comes from a deep, personal relationship with God. That knowledge comes from the Spirit of God drawing us into an intentional relationship with God through time and wisdom. Basically, it states that knowing God, comes from spending time with God.
Therefore, a deep and purposeful relationship with God is necessary before we can get to the deep things that will come later. We must first have a relationship with God, and a desire to know Him better through His Spirit within us before we can accomplish anything else.
Make a decision today to go on this journey of intentional connection, laying a solid foundation with proximity to God. Have a desire to know Him better and nurture your relationship with Him, for it is the first step towards a fulfilling, spirit-filled life.