The time we spend pursuing Christ is the most important investment of our lives.
Which is why this blog post will cover:
- The biggest obstetrical that stand between us in a relationship with God
- How to deepen ou relationship with God by:
- Cultivating Silence
- Embracing God in Every Area of Life
- On God’s word
- Casting our cares
So let’s get into it!!
The Biggest Obstacles Between Us and God
Spoiler alert: the greatest barriers between us and God are sin and shame.
These two companions have been present since the fall of man in Genesis, when Adam and Eve’s sin led to shame and separation from God.
Today, this same shame threatens to separate us from God. But God, gave us Jesus.
Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, we have unfettered access to God’s presence forever. Our worthiness is not hinged on our actions but rather on what Jesus has done for us.
Every time we stand firm in that faith, we take a step closer to God, deepening our relationship with Him. In this light, do not allow sin and shame to convince you that God will never speak to you. “God is always speaking; it’s up to us to listen.”
Which brings us to point one…
Cultivate Silence
When talking to Jesus, do not dominate the entire conversation.
In our fast-paced world, cultivating moments of silence is essential for listening to God. It’s easy to rush through quiet times, filling them with prayers, scripture reading, and worship, often missing the primary objective: listening.
Revelation 3:20 reminds us that while God stands at the door and knocks, we must make space for Him, which requires us to listen.
The beauty is that when we listen, we open our hearts to receive divine nudges and promptings. God desires to communicate with us beyond our often one-sided prayers. If we silence our hurried thoughts, we can experience profound revelations that nurture our souls, drawing us closer to Christ.
Bonus tip: at the end of every quiet time, grab your journal and pen, and finish by sitting quietly, just listening. Whatever you hear, write it down, and study it alongside the Bible at your next quiet time.
The more you practice, the more you learn how to hear His voice clearly.
Embrace Jesus in Every Aspect of Life
Quiet times are fantastic, right? However, Building a deeper relationship with Jesus is all about being totally dependent on Him.
Too often, we box our relationship with God into a neat little 30-minute routine, like a spiritual to-do list. But our walk with God isn’t going to thrive until we invite Him every part of out life! That means recognizing His presence through prayer and worship every single moment.
Prayer and worship should flow as naturally as breathing because God is always right there with us. Proverbs 18:24 reminds us there’s a friend who’s closer than a brother. And 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Now, don’t worry; this doesn’t mean you need to lock yourself in your room with your Bible for eternity. It means that our conversations with God can be ongoing. There’s no “off” switch on that connection!
Now, let’s be honest—sometimes we don’t pray like this because there are areas in our lives where we’d rather God not “weigh in.” Whether it’s lingering past hurts or those relationships that we know we should let go of, we can easily adopt a “I got it from here” mindset. But here’s the kicker: if we section off parts of our lives from Him, we miss out on the fullness of His presence. And who wants that?
We can trust Him! There’s nothing He’ll ask us to step away from or to start that He won’t empower us to handle.
Bonus Tip: Have you invited Jesus into every nook and cranny of your life? Let Him in fully and see how it transforms your daily grind! A small prayer like: “Lord i invited you into my day lead me” can make a huge difference.
The Psalmist said it best when he wrote:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NIV
What are you inviting God into today?
Lean on His Word
The Bible is like a treasure handed down straight from the heart of God! It’s not just a book; it reveals His character and intentions for us, acting as a powerful resource for boosting our faith. Seriously, when we dive into Scripture, we uncover the incredible patterns of God’s faithfulness, even when humanity is unfaithfulness.
Engaging with the Bible is more than just flipping through pages. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word is alive and active. So, go ahead and ask questions! Pray His words over your life like they’re your favorite comfort food. Live out the truths you discover.
And don’t forget to meditate on His Word. The Bible shows us that God and his word are one. (John 1) So when our minds are focused on his word, our minds are focused on Him.
So, remember the verses and stash them away in the treasure vault of your mind. God’s Word becomes part of you! Every verse you memorize is a seed planted, guaranteed to produce a fruitful harvest (Isaiah 55:11).
Bonus Tip: If you’re not sure where to start, focus on what’s right in front of you this season. Struggling with worry? Dive into verses about peace! Feeling a bit lonely? Check out what the Bible says about God’s constant presence. And for more help, don’t miss our Bible verses by topic page—your treasure map to spiritual gems!
Cast Your Cares
“but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Mark 4:19 NIV
Trust is essential in any relationship, including our connection with God. When we burden ourselves with our problems, we can’t focus on the Savior.
Instead, when we lay our cares at His feet, we open our hearts for trust and communication with God. This shift in focus allows us not only to experience peace but also to go deeper into the relationship we were created for.
Bonus Tip: there is a huge difference between, wallowing in our pain and ignoring it. God gives us the boldness to face life’s difflultulties, because we know the ultimately he will work good in our situation. (Romans 8:28).
We can take everything to him in prayer. (1 Peter 5:7).
- If our frustrations are caused by the unknown, we can pray about trusting God with our tomorrow. Matthew 6:27
- If we are struggling with pain caused by others, we can take every bit of that pain to Jesus (Read Psalm 143)
- If we are working though the outcome of our own poor decisions, we also take that to God in prayer. (Read 1 John 1:9)
Conclusion
Remember, drawing closer to God is a thrilling lifelong adventure! Each step, every precious moment spent in His embrace, and all those heartfelt prayers bring you closer to the most wonderful relationship you could ever imagine. He’s standing there with arms wide open, eager to join you on this epic journey—today and every single day. So let’s roll up our sleeves and invest our hearts in the pursuit. He’s right there with you.
