I spoke the other day to a young woman who said something was changing with her relationship with God. For years her faith in Christ was mere ritual, but now it was becoming personal. She had gone through a season of life shaking experiences and realized she didn’t merely need to know the Lord existed. She needed to know the Lord.
Personal Relationship with God
Many believers today live their faith as ritual rather than relationship. What about you? Is your faith relationship with God personal or ritual?
James 1:26 says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (NIV) James is implying that a true relationship with God will change you, will result in your life being molded into the likeness of Christ. If it doesn’t than it isn’t worth much.
Truth is you can be religious and not have a personal relationship with the Lord. You can come to church regular. You can give money in the offering plate. You can try to be fair and good to people. And you can deceive yourself into thinking that this means, in and of itself, that you have a strong relationship with God.
The real question is this…Are you growing in your prayer life? Are you reading the scriptures, seeking to apply them obediently out of a deep love and affection for God? Are you praying for your friends and family who do not know Christ and are you seeking ways to share your faith with them? Are you giving, not out of compulsion, but out of genuine gratitude?
Or are you simply going through the ritual motions? Are you going to church, listening to sermons and Bible studies, only to be generally unaffected personally? Do you do the religious thing by going to worship on Sunday, singing the songs, listening to messages, only to leave there to gossip, complain, or lie with your tongue?
I had a Christian Philosophy professor who once told me, “Saving grace is always changing grace.” A true saving relationship with God will never be mere ritual. It will be a relationship that will change you fundamentally.
So I ask you again, Is your faith ritual or relational? God wants to have a personal relationship with you that transforms you. His will is to shape your character into the likeness of Jesus Christ. He wants your faith in him to drive you into a rich acceptance of his grace and love. This love motivates you to live true to his nature and will.
Our lives are meant to live in communion with God, close to him.
Often I put my youngest son to bed at night. When I tuck him in I often give him a hug. I hold him in my arms, press my cheek to his and just pause. I don’t hug him quick, but hold him close. That warm closeness with my son is what life is all about. It is beautiful.
That is what God wants our relationship with him to be. Close, so close that we walk together in harmony, so close that we work together as one.
God loves you my friend. Draw close to him, really close to him. Make your relationship with him personal, not mere ritual. And let him change you into his likeness.
Question: What are ways you suggest we turn ritual faith into personal, life changing faith? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I feel honest, heartfelt prayers go a long way in shaping a real and authentic faith.
I really loved your article about pressing your cheek against your son s and hugging him in relation to a relationship with Jesus. I deeply want this with God, I pray,ask for revaluation do a bible study but recently have felt a bit dry in my prayer life I seem to be praying almost same things for others and myself everyday, I feel a bit distantany suggestions? As I deeply ache to be in the presence of God’s love deeply as I once felt.
My suggestion to you is to continue setting aside time with God in prayer and the Word. But as you pray, be sure to pour your heart out to God. Do not just pray the same cliche’ things. Share with him your hurt, fears, and doubts. Call on him for help with it all. Declare your utter dependance on him. I believe that will help you.