Question: What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God? Answer: Having a personal relationship with God begins the moment we realize our need for Him, admit we are sinners, and in faith receive Jesus Christ as Savior. God, our heavenly Father, has always desired to be close to us, to have a relationship with us. Before Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 3), both he and Eve knew God on an intimate, personal level. They walked with Him in the garden and talked directly to Him. Due to the sin of man, we became separated and disconnected from God. What many people do not know, realize, or care about, is that Jesus gave us the most amazing gift—the opportunity to spend eternity with God if we trust in Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ to take on our sin, be killed, and then be raised to life again, proving His victory over sin and death. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). If we accept this gift, we have become acceptable to God and can have a relationship with Him. Having a personal relationship with God means we should include God in our daily lives. We should pray to Him, read His word, and meditate on verses in an effort to get to know Him better. We should pray for wisdom (James 1:5), which is the most valuable asset we could ever have. We should take our requests to Him, asking in Jesus name (John 15:16). Jesus is the one who loves us enough to give His life for us (Romans 5:8), and He is the one who bridged the gap between us and God. The Holy Spirit has been given to us as our Counselor. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17). Jesus said this before He died, and after He died, the Holy Spirit became available to all who earnestly seek to receive Him. He is the one who lives in the hearts of believers and never leaves. He counsels us, teaches us truths, and changes our hearts. Without this divine Holy Spirit, we would not have the ability to fight against evil and temptations. But since we do have Him, we begin to produce the fruit that comes from allowing the Spirit to control us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This personal relationship with God is not as hard to find as we might think, and there is no mysterious formula for getting it. As soon as we become children of God, we receive the Holy Spirit, who will begin to work on our hearts. We should pray without ceasing, read the Bible, and join a Bible-believing church; all these things will help us to grow spiritually. Trusting in God to get us through each day and believing that He is our sustainer is the way to have a relationship with Him. Although we may not see changes immediately, we will begin to see them over time, and all the truths will become clear. Tandy Meyers Horton Kristi Carson Deann Still Rebecca Shockey Leslie Diehl Justus Jennifer Beasley Ludmila Gardeazabal Mary Sanders Mary Ann Hazelwood Mary Wood James Rombough Jill Hayes Jill L. Janiec Joy N. Hope Brandy Shiver Kay Fisher Kay Wallace-Samons Kay MillerMaggie Divine KayLouise Kay Amix Schmaling Kay Byrd McMullin Yolande Smith Carla Engel Dan Pope Dan Milleville Knows-Jesus Barbara Ann Taravella Barb Gadway Barbara Johnson Barbara Taylor Hadden Carolyn Gannon Bradley Lansdown Chasity Mann Myers Sheri Sharlow Cathy Faddis Cathy Mackey McMorrow Cathy Keene Cathy Van Heusden Tina Annice Nichols Tina Grounds Olive Bass Priscilla Chana Audrey Boyd Audrey Mladovan Audrey L Weilert Lorie Davidson Deb McCall Deborah Mitchell Deborah Sylva Mauro Deborah Anders Deborah Crampton Trena Angel Pirisola Pas Cindy Clarke MccauleyJulie Darlene Skidmore Holly Summers Star McCarver Tara McGovern Davies Carrie Dugger Doughty Carrie Anderson Carrie McDowell Hodge Truth-set You-free April Humphrey Michelle James Tracy CM Moeck-Martin Margaret Kruger Esteva Dodson Susanne Rosensköld Susan Elise Pearson Susan Young Susan Ferguson Nettie Watkins Carter Ronda Ann Asbill Ronda Nuzum Ronda Frair Kellie Fryoux Kelly Anderson Bonnie Lee Davis Bonnie Germano Lily Park Ann Marie Lucille Brown Sandi Kay Curran Toby Hise Sandra Ybarra Peter-Shane Southward Laurie Spero-Asjes Eleni Apostolopoulou Virginia L. Sanvictores Greg Wolford Glory Sandoval Arrogante Patrick Cade Patricia Simmons Peggy Johnson Paula Jackson Rachelle Waller Rachel Cain Stefa Murray-Waldron Bruce David BalvinGinger Bruce Wales Trent Tamara Paige RadeckiDennis Bergman Annette Paulk Blake Mullins Sia Mantis Jesse L Perez Elen Sweet Angel Grace Africa Anderson Angelica Rarick Angel PettisMary Angela Jackson-Brown Angela Marmaduke Christie Ryan Christina Stone-Yoe Christian Wilson George Banos Helen Varges Febles Connie Long Penny Newton Collins Penny Hunter Dottie Adcock John Vega Matt Godstar Fisher Marites Llaga Mary Carmen Vergara Bercht Mary Panich Mary Hill Mary Tuggle Shoemaker Clem Alex Longoria Alexis Prima Donna Segrest Williams Denise Barbosa Dos Santos Anna Pine Tracy Smith Debbie McCarty Debbie Moon Debbie Kamp Dreyer Debbie Lawrence Joe Arnold Pentecostal Church India Sekhar Daniel PastorR Joshua Pastor Mary Grace Daniel Prasanna Grace Prameela Sharon Prasanthi Grace K Joel Pandu Maria Jacobson Wanda West Kimberley Wise Kimberly Hobyl Prem Kumar K
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:29:53 +0000