In my mid 20s, I lived with my grandmother, LaRose (Nanny). I was recently divorced, needing a place to live, and she was to the point she could no longer live alone. We were the prefect match. We already shared a family bond, but the three years we lived together drew us even closer – close enough to sometimes read each other’s minds!
I will never forget the evening we were with my parents, all of us gathered around the round kitchen table, when someone innocently said, “Pass the beans.” Nanny and I instantaneously looked up at each other and cracked up laughing. A silly memory, yes, but a happy reminder of our close relationship.
I knew the person she was and she knew me. She didn’t just know about me, or what I told her about me, or even what someone else told her about me. She knew me firsthand from close observation, intentional communication and time invested in each other’s lives. Of course, we did have our differences and disagreements. Yet we chose to embrace each other’s differences in love.
Who do you share a deep relationship with? Whose mind can you read? Is there such a thing as an ideal relationship?
The answer is no. And yes. With people it’s always an imperfect thing, no matter how hard we try to make it right. With The Lord? Yes. We can have an ideal relationship with our Jesus BUT if, and only if, we choose to make the effort.
So, how is your relationship with Christ going these days?
I’m not talking religion here. I’m talking relationship. There is a huge difference. Which had you rather have with your Lord?
Do we believe in Christ or do we believe Christ? Do we know about Him or do we actually know Him personally? Think about it.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
The Lord knows all about us, naturally. He created us simply because He wanted to. He considers us family because it gives Him great pleasure. He is with us all the time because He promised to be. But if we ignore Him, if we place Him last on our to-do list of important things, we may never even realize Christ is standing beside us holding His arms open and inviting us into His presence,
If we do want the ideal relationship with Him – to know Him personally - it takes time and effort. It takes much more than hearing what someone else tells us about Him. It takes close personal observation, intentional communication and time invested in His presence. We need to place Him at the top of our to-do lists.
So just how can we grow, enrich and expand our relationship with Christ? How can we get to the point that we know His mind on many things?
Spend intentional time with Him on a regular basis.
Communicate with Him constantly (pray – talk AND listen).
Read and study His Word. Dig into it.
Praise Him. Worship Him. Sing. Dance.
Always look for Him at work in the world.
Listen for Him in the birdsong and the breeze.
Expect to see Him and hear Him speak to you every day.
They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:19-20 ESV
The Lord is with us always, whether we realize it or not. He wants to be in our company. Why don’t we take the time to enjoy His presence? We can have the ideal relationship with Him. Its totally up to us.
Hugs and blessings,
Dear Lord, it is not easy to find time for You in my busy life. It is not easy to hear You whispering to me over all the noise. Forgive me for ignoring You or putting You in last place. Please help me to slow down, to make time to spend with you. Bless me with the discernment to understand Your Word as I read it, and hear You speak to me through it. I truly long to grow closer and closer to You, my Lord. Please help me. Amen.
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK
Spend more time with Christ – any way you choose. Just do it!
Great words. Thanks for sharing, Linda. You are right, why don't we want a close relationship with Him?! It doesn't make sense. Usually its simply by default that we forget to include time with Him into our day. We get busy! Focused on other things. I'm guilty myself, more often than I want to admit. Some days I get up running and totally forget to spend time with Him. I do know from experience, however, that my days are 100% better when I include God in them. When I expect to see and hear Him, I usually do! ❤️
When I stop and really think about God's deep, abiding love for me and the way Jesus loved me so much that He suffered indescribable pain and allowed all my sin to be placed on Him, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. God adopted me into His family. Can I even grasp that fact? I heard it said that Jesus went to the Cross because He wanted me in Heaven with Him. That's incredible! How very blessed am I!!
And it's not just for me, it's for ALL who will believe and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It's a free gift. There is no way I could ever pay the debt I owed because of my sin. Thank y…