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December 23, 2024

Q & A: Cultivating a Relationship with God

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Matthew 22:34-40; Philippians 3:7-11

This week we continue our Q & A blog.

Question: What does “have a relationship with God” mean? Praying? Reading the Bible?

Answer: Thank you for your question. The word “relationship” can be a fuzzy word, especially as it pertains to our relationship with God. How do we relate to God? How do we cultivate a relationship with Him? This is a rare endeavor since God is invisible, and everyone else we relate to is visible. I will discuss the “relationship” concept first, how it pertains to God, then I’ll provide some tips on what this would look like in everyday life.

Relationships. There is no doubt that we are designed for relationships. This is one of the defining characteristics to what it means to be made in the image of God (see Genesis 1:27). God created humanity (i.e., male and female) with the capacity to relate to one another and to Him. This is unique because the Scriptures never assert that animals nor angels are made in the image of God. Angels do interact with God, but they are never spoken of as made in God’s image or are redeemable like humanity. I think that’s an interesting fact.

Relating to God. This is the meaning of life; namely, to know God personally, not simply to know facts about Him. Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was in the Hebrew Bible (i.e., Old Testament). He replied, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40, NKJV). This was certainly the Apostle Paul’s view as seen in Philippians 3:7-11. Paul had a long résumé of accomplishments (i.e., he was part of the tribe of Benjamin, a passionate, dedicated Pharisee, and determined to eliminate the Christian movement). He said, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish” (Philippians 3:8-9, NKJV). Paul already believed in Jesus for eternal life and knew God on a personal level (see Acts 9:1-9; 22:3-21; 26:12-23). The “knowledge” in this context means a greater personal knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul sought to grow in his relationship with Christ.

Practical suggestions. Once we believe in Jesus alone, not trusting in anything or anyone else, for eternal life (see John 3:16; 6:47; 1 Timothy 1:16), we are meant to grow in that relationship (see 1 Peter 2:1-3).  We are encouraged to come to God in prayer (i.e., prayer simply means talking to Him) and share whatever concerns us (see Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:2-4; 18:1-8; 1 Peter 5:6-7). We were created to be in fellowship with God (see Genesis 1-2; 1 John 1:1-4).

With that said, I suggest setting aside a specific time every day to pray. If you are new at this, I recommend setting aside 5-10 minutes. For the sake of consistency, schedule it the same time every day. Talk to God as if He were your best friend because He is (see Isaiah 41:8; John 15:12-17; James 2:23). Tell Him your fears, your hopes, your prayers for others (see Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-6). Honestly, it may appear odd at first because you are talking to someone you cannot see, but you’ll get into a routine before you know it. If you want to pray out loud, you can do that; however, God can read your mind if you want to pray silently. There is no evidence, Biblical speaking, that spoken prayers are more effective than silent ones (see 1 Samuel 1:8-18, especially verses 12-13; Psalm 139:1-4, especially verse 4).

The means by which God talks to us is through reading the Bible (see Ezra 7:10; Psalm 1; 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 Peter 2:1-3). Again, if you are new at this, I recommend starting a regular Bible reading program. The quantity is not what matters but the quality. It is better to read a smaller portion of scripture with understanding than multiple chapters and fail to recall what you read and fail to apply it (see James 1:22-25). There are a number of Bible reading plans out there, so find one that works for you. It may help you to know that the church is starting a Bible reading plan in 2025. The benefit of this option is that you are reading the same passage as the rest of the church and are able to encourage one another by what you are learning (see Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15).

My Bible reading program. I pick a book of the Bible, read one chapter in the morning. Morning is the best time for me to read. If afternoon or evening works for you, then do that. If I was reading through a New Testament book, like Matthew, once I finished, I would pick an Old Testament book such as Habakkuk (one of my favorite Old Testament books) by reading one chapter in the morning. When I finish it, I go back to the New Testament and select a different book such as Galatians. This way I am going back and forth from the New Testament to the Old Testament. I am seeking a balance between the two.

I hope this was helpful. If you want an additional resource on how to pursue a deeper relationship with God, I recommend the book Connecting with God: The Path to Intimacy, Joy, and Wonder by Pete Deison.