Okay, so how do I get a "relationship" [w/ God] that works for me?

[Firefighter]

Great post! If I could give you reps for that one I would, but alas it won't lett me do it again... GREAT POST!!!

[Slug1]

I've always looked at it as connecting to a God, who is Spirit, to pour out His grace in and through me, and so help me affect the natural world, where people live, with His love. Just serve people according to His standards, in humility. Like Jesus touched others with the Father's love and became a living example of it. People need that. They're starving for it. We're the ones who receive it from God, and then pass it on. We connect to God by serving people created in His image, and we make Him real to them by loving them the way He has already loved us. Just be a pipe, open on both ends, and let that love flow through and out of you.

AMEN, I went to church for many years... Sunday check the block... yep, done... I'm outt'a here.

When I was led to that first specific ministry and saw how the Lord touched people by what He had me do... it truly began what I understand as a "relationship" with our Lord.

[Dani H]

But see, that's my problem. That isn't anything "personal" if you just use your own connection with people, and what you do for them, as an indicator of a "relationship with God". To me, that's just doing good things for people, but it doesn't make me look at my actions towards them and think, "Had a great time with you today, God!" It is still "detached from reality" for me. Again, I appologize for my sincere truthfulness.

You're not being ignorant. People tend to over-complicate Christianity. It simply means we come to Jesus so He can deliver us from our sin and from our tendency to only care about ourselves and the things that immediately affect us, and mis-treat other people in the process. God opens our eyes to the world around us and makes us more acutely aware of the needs of others, and then helps us meet them.

The purpose of my own Bible study is to get a better understanding of how Jesus was able to love people the way He was, and then pray so my own heart changes and I can bring Him into my own relationships, when my natural tendency would be to just ignore others and only worry about me, myself and mine. Over the years, He has greatly tenderized my heart and has enabled me to love others in a way that I would never have thought possible.

Where did you think your desire to love and serve others comes from? Osmosis? No honey, it's God. Man, left to his own devices, sins against others by mis-treating them. You see that by just watching the news every day. You see it by the way people talk about each other and use each other spitefully. By the way criticism and judgmentalism holds them captive and keeps them from getting over themselves. By the way people approach every situation with "what can I get out of this? and by the callousness we see all around us. By the way people chase everything except God and only live to promote themselves and their own agenda, whatever that may be.

If God removed Himself from the earth, how do you think people would act? Do you think it would be better, or worse? Read the book of Judges to see what happens when "everyone does what is right in their own eyes". Bad things happen, that's what. People go to war and fight and argue and hurt each other, that's what. People use each other in the most hurtful, uncaring ways because they're driven by everything except love.

It is up to us, who know He is real and know that Jesus is indeed His Son, and that the Bible is His Word, to put ourselves into a place of perpetuating His love, goodness, mercy, kindness and all those things that make life worth living and that make us worthwhile being around. To share Him with others in the most practical ways, because that is the point. The measure of how much Jesus we really have, can readily be observed in our relationships.

[AmyFlorida]

Although my eyes are crossing from speed-reading 30+ posts. I had this problem too, Magnetic. I thought that everyone else in the world must have some special line to God that I didn't have. My sister would stand next to me in church singing her heart out, obviously in a place of close worship, and I'd be thinking "wow, I wish it got me that way." In my head I always felt "less than" because although I was a Christian, it didn't seem to seep up from my heart to my head, which never seemed to shutup with the doubts. A number of things happened to me, and I went off on my own way for awhile, until my choices broke me and I came running back to God. I don't have specific verses to put out for you, but my thought is this. Everyone's experience is different. Depends on who you are. I had a tendency to analyze EVERYTHING to the point where it all became circular. Once I just gave it up and quieted my mind (which is difficult to do when you're a type A personality), I started, slowly, gradually to feel God. Really know he was there. And bit by bit, it grew. And as it grew, I attended more services at a wonderful church. I got involved in Sunday School. Started attending a small group Bible study. Started tithing, so I would be in obedience. (God has given back in abundance by the way, even in this economy.) Filled my Ipod with Christian music. Found some new friends to replace some that were, frankly, trying to drag me down. This didn't happen in a day, week or a month. But as I did each thing, I did it not really 'feeling' any difference, but looking back, I see where I was and where God led me. Step by step. You say you sort of feel something with worship music. Start listening to lots of worship music! LOUD! Praising God for who he is and what he's done will breed thankfulness, which draws you closer.
My last thought, which was actually my first thought, is that you don't really say anything about Satan, whose first desire is that you stay as far from a close relationship with God as possible. He will do everything possible to stop you, put thoughts in your mind, you name it, he'll do it. "whatever is pure, lovely, good report, think on these things." (I'm horrible with references, can't remember 'em, too lazy to get up.) When you start analyzing your 'lack' of whatever, in regards to your relationship with God, STOP those thoughts. Think of what God's done for you. Turn those thoughts around until you train yourself to take a new path when the same old stuff creeps in. Also, go on Ebay or somewhere and get a copy of "This Present Darkness" by Peretti. (think that's how you spell his name.) It's given me a ton of insight into how Satan can tear me and those around me down, it's fictional, not scary, and I bet it'll say something to you. I'm praying for you, and I'm sure God has something good coming for you. Believe it, expect it, and He'll make it real FOR you.

[SweetSomber]

Okay, I hate to ask a dumb question, but are you born again?

You say you are a christian, but many people say "christian" when they mean "churched." Has there been a moment in your life when you repented from your sin, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, dedicating your life to Him?

The reason I ask is that in my life, my relationship with God was not personal, but only mere knowledge until I was born again. Since then, I can feel God's presence.

I'm a very intellectual person. Logically, I can talk to God like I talk to you, except that I can only talk to you if you are here, (or near a computer to read what I wrote) whereas I can talk to God anywhere, because He is everywhere. I need to speak with my voice to humans, because sound waves reach the ear, but God knows my silent longings and thoughts, therefore I can pray aloud, or silently.

And God answers. Not always the way I want Him too. One time, I was driving to northern California from southern California. At that time (eartier this year) I had a bad habit of talking on my cell phone while driving, which is illegal. Anyway, within an hour of when I started driving, another driver started to try to change lanes (I was in their blind spot) and would have hit me except that they suddenly swerved back into their own lane (must have seen me) I was a bit frightened, and right then, I knew that God was taking care of me. About a half an hour later, there were trucks on both sides of my car, and the truck on my right side started to change lanes (and again, would have hit me) but stopped and didn't. Again, I knew in my heart that God was with me. About a half hour later, my friend from home called, and I was talking with him on my cell phone, after talking to him for like 3 minutes, I got pulled over, and got my first ticket for talking on a cell phone while driving. And yet again, I knew in my heart, that God was with me - AND keeping me in line!! Still made me feel loved and safe.

[GrowinginHim]

I do have a desire, yes.

I really only "sense" something more when I hear or play worship music.

Thank you for answering my question. If hearing or playing worship music is where you get a "sense" of relationship with God....then that's a good place to begin your relationship with Him. Let God know you desire a relationship with Him, then begin with the worship music, and before you know it your relationship with our LORD will began to bloom.

Love in Christ,
NeedHope

"Make a joyful shout to the LORD....Come before His presence with singing..." Psalm 100: 1a,2b

"I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises." Psalm 101:1

[Magnetic]

Thank you all for your repsonses. I have read them all.

DaniHansen, I appreciate you offering up a bit of your past. It's good to know that others have felt "disconnected".

AmyFlorida and NeedHope, I try to listen to worship music as much as I can. Right now, I have (on another IE session) Hillsong's "With Everything" playing... Amy, I have read "This Present Darkness", so I know what you're talking about. Thanks, though!

SweetSomber, . . . I have done those things, . . . asked Jesus into my heart (and meant it), and have always tried my best to keep from sinning.

I do have a desire for the true God. Many times, humans have confused me as to what that means, and it has caused me to have a lot of issues with "a relationship". If I can only "feel something" in the venue of worship music, then that is where I will linger.

[Dani H]

I do have a desire for the true God. Many times, humans have confused me as to what that means, and it has caused me to have a lot of issues with "a relationship". If I can only "feel something" in the venue of worship music, then that is where I will linger.

While we're to walk by faith and not by feelings ... I'm submitting to you there's probably a reason you're drawn to the Lord via worship music, and so I would encourage you to continue in that. Worship music has always played a key role in my walk and really does help me to focus on the Lord. If you read the book of Psalms, it's a collection of prayer and praise/worship music! And obviously part of the Bible for good reason.

[tt1106]

Dani brings up a good point. Most of our experiences are gauged by feeling. God asks for more than that. He doesn't ask for us to step out on faith and then we will believe.

I think of William Tynesdale and Bonhoffer who were martyred? How much Faith must they have had? Why do I have less.

Magnetic, I kept waiting for God to move and he did in a mighty way, but I realized I could have learned so much more, If I had just known then what I know now. Christianity, to me, is about leading other people to Christ. The Disciples didn't have it right immediately either. They committed many blunders along the way, including abandoning Christ in the garden.
Serve God. Serve a meal at a homeless mission. Feed the hungry. Clothe the needy. Serve God with other believers and you will see the miracle of God's Grace.
Finding that relationship for me is not about reading the Bible, or being a disciplined Christian(although that is a huge part of it), it is also about putting my Faith in action and seeing miracles being performed.
God Bless


tt1106

I agree with Dani also about worship music. I love music, so I am certainly drawn to music as a ministry. Psalms is fantastic.

[MeerkatMadden]

I appreciate all of the helpful information that people are posting. I don't always agree with all of the opinions here, but at least people are trying to help each other out.