Faith's Power: Your Relationship With God

Faith is an essential component of a strong and meaningful relationship with God. While it may be challenging to develop a personal relationship with God, it is possible to do so by incorporating specific practices into your daily life. Reading and studying the Bible, spending time in prayer, and treating others with kindness and love are all ways to grow closer to God. Additionally, having faith in God's plan and asking for forgiveness can deepen your connection. Prioritising your relationship with God and trusting in His love and guidance will lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Prayer and reading scripture

Prayer and scripture reading are powerful tools for building a close relationship with God. It is important to value the relationship over the ritual, and to maintain a connection with God each day.

Prayer is a way to communicate with God, and it can be done at any time and in any place. It is a way to ask for help and guidance, and to express gratitude for the good things in life. It is also a way to worship and praise God, and to seek forgiveness for sins. When praying before reading scripture, one might ask God to open their eyes and heart to His teachings, and to help them understand and apply His word in their life.

Scripture reading is a way to learn about God and how He has helped His people throughout history. It is a source of inspiration and guidance, and a way to discover God's character and will for our lives. When reading the Bible, it is important to approach it with an open mind and heart, and to be receptive to God's teachings.

Prayers Before Reading Scripture:

• "Open my eyes, gracious Lord, as I turn to your word. I long to know you, to understand life, and to be changed. Examine me, Lord, by the floodlight of your truth."
• "Lord, it was You Who caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning. Teach me today in the power of Your Holy Spirit, the truths that You would have me learn. Lord, I know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Feed me on Your Word, I pray, and make me hungry for the living Manna that came down from heaven..."
• "Dear Lord, thank You for Your written Word and the mighty truths it contains. We pray that in the power of Your Holy Spirit, You would open our hearts and minds to the truths that You wish us to see. Prepare our hearts and open our minds we pray, and give us a teachable spirit that is receptive to all that You would have us learn today..."

Prayers After Reading Scripture:

• "May the word I have read, Lord, be planted deeply in my mind and heart. Help me not to walk away and forget it, but to meditate on it and obey it and so build my life on the rock of your truth."
• "May I be willing to be led into all truth and to be taught what is the will of the Father in my life. And give me a willing heart and the opportunity to share with others the pearls of truth You would teach me today. In Jesus' name, Amen."
• "Heavenly Father, shine the pure light of Your Word of truth into our hearts today and open the eyes of our minds to comprehend the nuggets of truth that are contained within this precious passage of Scripture. Thank You for Your Word. Your Word is truth and life and health and light..."

Trust in God's plan

Trusting in God's plan can be challenging, especially when we cannot see or hear Him. However, we can take several steps to develop our trust in His plan for our lives. Here are some ways to do that:

Seek God's Will

Ask God for wisdom to understand His plan for your life. While this may take time and effort, God will grant you understanding and wisdom in any situation. Start by trusting Him in the small things, and it will become easier to trust Him in the larger aspects of life.

Pray for Guidance

When faced with difficult situations, pray for God's direction and guidance. Ask Him to lead you to verses in the Bible that will encourage and give you peace. For instance, Isaiah 59:17 says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper... This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord."

Write Down God's Answers

Make it a habit to write down and record the times when you see God's answers or leading in your life. For example, in Joshua chapter 4, the Bible recounts how the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River. They were instructed to choose 12 men to collect a large stone from the dry riverbed and carry them to the other side, where they built a memorial so that they could retell God's stories of deliverance and His plan for them.

Remember God's Promises

One well-known Bible verse about God's plan for you is Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God has a good plan for you, and it includes hope and a future.

Read the Bible

The Bible is filled with stories of people who trusted in God's plan, such as Elijah, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Reading these stories can strengthen your trust in God and encourage you when facing similar situations.

Trust in God's Timing

God's plan for your life may not always align with your timeline or scope of opportunity. Remember that His ways are bigger than yours, and He can do the impossible. Trust that He will clear the path for you when the time is right.

Prepare for Challenges

Following God's plan is not always easy. It will require sacrifice and obedience. You may need to say "no" to some things and realign your priorities. However, God will equip you with what you need at the right moment.

Know That Saying "Yes" to God Is Worth It

Saying "yes" to God may lead you on a difficult path, but it will ultimately bring you everlasting life, joy, peace, comfort, and strength. You will live a life filled with purpose and passion, knowing that you are following His will.

Faith in God's forgiveness

Forgiveness is how your relationship with God begins, and it is also how you should live with others. When you experience true forgiveness, love is the result. Understanding God's depth of love and forgiveness will inspire you to forgive and love more freely.

• Confess your sins and accept Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf. God's forgiveness is not something you can earn; it is a gift that must be received.
• You don't have to clean up your life before seeking God's forgiveness. God will help you change your life.
• You are not too bad to be forgiven. No matter what you've done, God will forgive you if you turn from your wicked ways.
• Even if you feel overwhelmed by your sins, God is not. Jesus has already paid the price for your sins, and God will forgive every single one.
• God's forgiveness is free and unearned. You cannot make yourself right with God through good works or religious rituals.
• Prioritize forgiving others. Forgiveness is essential for healthy relationships and is commanded by God.

Building a close relationship with God requires heart work: slowing down, admitting your true thoughts and feelings, and trusting God instead of yourself. Walking with God means taking your connection beyond a morning quiet time and bringing it into the rest of your day.

Gratitude through prayer

Gratitude is an essential aspect of a person's relationship with God. Expressing gratitude to God through prayer is an act of humility and love, as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

> Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

God's Love and Guidance

Gratitude can be expressed for God's love, guidance, and the gift of life. For instance, one can be grateful for God's love, which brings acceptance and significance, guidance, and direction. Similarly, one can be thankful for God's truth, which provides direction and stability, as well as God's mercy, which offers help and comfort.

God's Beauty and Redemption

The beauty of God's creation, displayed in nature, is another source of gratitude. One can also be grateful for God's way of redemption—the cross, which brings salvation and regeneration.

God's Blessings and Protection

People may also express gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon them, such as supportive family and friends, and for God's protection and help in making better choices.

God's Power and Presence

Gratitude can be directed towards God's power, which brings hope and strength during challenging times, and for God's constant presence and support.

Cultivating a Grateful Heart

Maintaining a grateful heart is essential for a close relationship with God. One way to cultivate gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal, jotting down little things one is grateful for throughout the day. This practice can help one pause and praise God, changing their perspective on life and bringing a reason to celebrate the Creator.

Recognising God's love

Firstly, God's love is evident in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The Book of Psalms, for instance, has many verses that describe God's love. In Psalm 36:4, David poetically writes, "Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." Other verses that speak of God's love include Psalm 36:7 ("How priceless is your unfailing love, O God"), Psalm 86:15 ("You, LORD, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you"), and Psalm 136, which repeatedly echoes, "His love endures forever."

In addition to the Bible, God's love can be recognised through prayer. God wants to hear from His children, and just as we develop relationships with friends by talking to them, we can build a relationship with God through prayer. We can ask Him for help and guidance, share our challenges and good and bad days, and express gratitude for the things we enjoy in life. While it may feel strange at first, prayer can become a sure form of communication with God with continual practice and faith.

Another way to recognise God's love is through Jesus Christ, who is the physical demonstration of God's love. Jesus taught about the Father's love and showed us how wide, long, high, and deep it is through His sacrifice on the cross. By laying down His life for us, Jesus showed that God's love is incomprehensible, unconditional, and able to be experienced.

Meditating on the cross and the Word of God can also help us recognise His love. By slowing down and making time for sustained seeking-and-listening prayer, we can cultivate a combination of knowing and experiencing Christ's love. This practice of biblical meditation involves considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.

Finally, recognising God's love can be as simple as acknowledging His presence in our lives and looking for ways He is moving in them. By doing so, we can experience His care and allow our lives to be changed.

Frequently asked questions