YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS JUST THAT, IT’S PERSONAL.

Everyone’s personal relationship with God looks different, but it has to have the same foundation, salvation. Salvation is knowing that we are sinners, asking God to forgive us of our past, present and future sins, and believing that He can and will do that, through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. This is the beginning of how to have a personal relationship with God. They key is to keep that personal relationship with God alive and active!

MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY

I have fallen into the “cookie cutter” way of thinking! I thought I needed to do specific things, the same way that “everyone does”, in order for my relationship with God to grow, or to just feel closer to Him. Here is my current story!

I had spent a lot of time writing a devotional, quite a few months actually. I finished writing it, formatting a rough draft and I printed sample copies up for people. This was such a long process, but it’s what I love to do! I felt very close to God during this time because I understand that this is a gift that God has blessed me with, so I do feel very close to Him as I am studying and writing. I always feel the closest to God when I am studying the bible, writing a bible study, working on blog or doing my prayer journals.

But when I finished I told myself that I shouldn’t jump right into writing another bible study or devotional. “You need to just focus on God, and spending time with Him. You don’t always need to be writing a bible study, it’s not spiritually healthy! You need to slow down and just read and pray for awhile.” I don’t know why I told myself that, but I did and I listened to myself.

So, here I am a month or so later, struggling spiritually and feeling further away from God than I have ever been. I bring up my bible app on my computer to only look at it with a blank stare. I try to pray quietly to myself, but I am at a loss for words. I go to church and listen to the message, but to only forget the main points once I walk out the doors. I go through my day thinking about God, but not having any fellowship time with Him. I ask myself “What is wrong with me? I am trying to do exactly what I should, read, pray, and go to church, but I can’t focus on any of it!” I then began to fall into the trap of doing nothing, just going to church. No reading or praying because what’s the point if I can’t focus or retain anything.

This brings me to last night. I felt guilty because I have had no fellowship time with God, haven’t been in the word for what has felt like such a long time. So, I tried again to read, nothing. I prayed, nothing. I was again discouraged, and God knew this. God spoke to me and asked why I am not doing my prayer journals when I am praying. I was like ok, I will do my prayer journals. It felt GREAT! I felt close to God and it was awesome! My mood picked up instantly! Fast forwarding to this morning, I finished my journals and was deciding what I should do next. I wanted to read the bible (because that’s what I should do, right?) but I knew I would not be able to focus on it, so again what’s the point if I am not going to be able to focus on it. God basically told me this:

Why are you trying so hard to focus on areas that I have not gifted you in? Yes you need to read scripture. Yes you need to be able to pray without journaling. But, If you need to write a bible study to draw close to me then do it! If you need to do your prayer journals to fellowship with me then journal! If you need to do a blog post, then by all means do it! Reading and praying are great ways to fellowship with me, but you need to have your own personal relationship with me. Don’t do what you think you should do. Do what you know you should do!

I convinced myself that reading and praying a certain way was the only way to grow my personal relationship with God. I am my own worst enemy sometimes! I don’t need the devil whispering in my ear when I’m feeding myself lies

Conclusion

Everyone grows their relationship with God differently. Everyone needs to find how to grow their personal relationship with God in their our own way. It has to involve His word and prayer, but what that looks like is up to you!
Some can just read scripture and feel close to God, some need to actually study His word, while some may need to pray longer and deeper, and others some may need to meditate on His word and who He is with a walk or through music. So many options. Everyone is different and each person needs to determine what they need to do in order to draw closer to God.

Want more resources to share and use to fellowship? Check out our Free Bible Studies and hover over the BLOG in the menu, to see the different topics to chose from. We have multiple types and topics for you, all free, in our blog and on our bible study pages!

To learn more about salvation and what it means read What is Salvation and God’s Promise of Salvation, it will guide you through this with scripture.