5 Tips for Deepening Your Relationship with the Lord
When I first met my husband, I was eager to spend time with him and get to know him more. He was a mystery and everything I learned about him was new and exciting! Then, as the layers of his life and personality were revealed to me, we grew closer and our bond as a couple was strengthened. In our desire to get to know each other more deeply, we talked, asked each other questions and discovered each other’s dreams. The more time we spent together, the more we learned and soon, our friendship developed into love…and that love has been with us now for over 32 years! What makes a relationship flourish? Time, energy, commitment and intentional love.
It is the same in our relationship with the Lord. We want to get to know Him and develop that bond into something deep, meaningful and lasting. But how do we accomplish that when God is not tangible?
Fortunately, God has provided many ways! Below I’ve listed 5 tips for deepening your relationship with the Lord. This list is by no means complete, but it shows some of the ways that I’ve come to know Him and deepen our bond.
1. Develop Your Prayer Life
As in any relationship, communication is of key importance! Prayer is a relationship building form of communication with our Creator. Through prayer our innermost thoughts and desires are shared as well as our thanks and praises to the One who made us. As a result of this intimate form of communication, our relationship with God develops and our bond is strengthened.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
2. Get to Know His Character
Though we speak to God through prayer, one way God communicates to us is through His Word. Reading and meditating on scripture every day, is a wonderful habit to form. The more familiar we become with it, the more familiar we’ll become with Him. And, as we get to know God’s character from the pages of our Bible that will enable us to more easily recognize His voice and presence in our lives.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:14
3. Seek to Please Him
In our relationships with those we love, we long to please them and do things to make them happy. Shouldn’t we want to make God happy, too? God’s way is always the best way! When we submit our wills to God, choosing to obey Him rather than following our own sinful inclinations, we will please Him! Obeying God’s instructions is a great way to please Him because it expresses our love and respect for Him in a real and tangible way!
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
4. Make God Your Priority
Relationships with the people in our lives need time and attention to develop and grow. Likewise, when we seek to be near God and invest quality time in our relationship, we will be rewarded with the blessing of a flourishing relationship with Him.
“They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8
5. Worship Him
Worship is an expression of our love of God and comes in many forms. It is not just the singing of praises through song and music, it is the way we live out our lives seeking to bring Him honor and glory. Worship is not only the attitude of our hearts, it is the outward manifestation of our love of God.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
Seeking Him,
Fabulous tips to grow our relationship with our Lord. Thank you for sharing them, Joan.
What a great list and a great reminder that we must build our relationship with Christ on solid ground. Great Word! ((hugs))
I love lists! Thanks for bringing these basic tips to the forefront of my mind!