The Secret to Having a Relationship With God

For a long time, I cheated God in our relationship and stole His glory while claiming I was “worshiping” Him.

The problem was that I was lazy; it looked like too much to put in time to develop my relationship with Him. It was much easier to cheat off my neighbors and copy how I saw them worshiping God, or how they described the way they interacted with Him.

After my consistent “high” sessions of apparently coming so close to opening heaven’s door, I felt I just couldn't get in.

Wasn't I knocking hard enough? Seeking enough? Praying enough?

So, I tried to increase my prayer time thinking that it would do the trick, but I was wrong again. Now, I’m not saying that God wasn't speaking during this period because He was, but I on the other hand wasn't exactly listening to Him. There was such a burden in my belly for this place I couldn't quite describe, but my heart sung of it daily.

I knew without a doubt that God was calling me higher and deeper into fellowship with Him but a part of me was defeated. After all the “work” I put in, I wasn't getting there; it was like I was being teased by the picture of the door to my Kings’ heart but couldn't make it past the gate.

Eventually I got to the end of myself, and there began the journey to building my relationship with God. When you are done with trying to calculate your relationship with God like it’s a 12 step process and step aside, then God will show you how He created you to have a relationship with Him.

Let’s look at Abraham in the Bible. God gave him a promise of a son and it became such a burden on him and his wife when it wasn't happening; they decided to take matters into their hands. It seemed like time was just going by and they weren't of help. So, they tried to “birth” the promise based on their plan. Eventually, they realized that Ishmael could never be Isaac. He could never replace the promise.

It’s the same way Jesus brought the promise to us in this era of grace called Relationship. We no longer have to go through high priests and prophets to get to God. He lives within us and calls us friends. We have been given the opportunity to have a personal and intimate relationship with our creator.

So trying to replace this promise by substituting it for what you see your neighbor doing won’t cut it. Not only are you robbing God of the sound He placed in your belly that sings a song of glory in His ears, you’re also robbing yourself of truly experiencing God.

Honestly, this generation has the most microwaved mindset meaning that no one is willing to build. We want things quick, easy, and simple.

What we neglect is that relationships take time to build. Copying the layout of your neighbor will make you like an unstable house that will be blown away during testing because your foundation is off. Each person has a unique layout/foundation when building a relationship with God.

Same God, different person, hence uniquely crafted foundation.

Wasting time copying someone’s foundation because you’re lazy to build from ground up will have you running in circles, and I’m saying this from firsthand experience. I've built a lot of houses that got blown away, but never be afraid to get back up again. God is waiting for you.

From what I've learnt, one of the greatest secrets to having a relationship with God is embracing the sculpt He made you in. We are to worship Him in Spirit and truth, but we cannot do that by trying to be someone we are not. There is a huge emphasis on the relationship being a “personal” one. It’s between you and God, not your neighbor, pastor, family, or friend. Don’t get me wrong they can be used by God to speak to you, but don’t substitute their relationship for yours.

The reason why I could never get to that higher place was because I was trying to knock at the gates of heaven like my neighbor, but when God hears the sound He doesn't recognize it. He won’t open that gate.

I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! (John 10:1, NLT)

Each sheep has to individually walk through the gate, so your friend cannot carry you in. There’s a way to get to a deeper relationship with God, and cutting corners will not get us there. We have to take time to ask God to show us how we were made to worship and have a relationship with Him. Even if you don’t desire that, you can ask for it and God will give it to you. There were times when I got so complacent in my understanding of God, and I sensed there was more but I didn't desire it in my heart. But we serve the God that sculpted every intricate corner of our hearts, and only He can change it. He changed my desire and can do the same for you.

As long as you have breath, it’s not too late to revamp your relationship with God. All he needs is a heart that is willing. Be encouraged, and God bless!