The Struggle With Being Intimate With God

If you read John 15, it is hard not to see that for us to be able to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised--we can't just attend church or go feed the homeless from time to time. We have to "stay connected to the vine" as Jesus says. Often I watch my children avoid intimate prayer and discussion with God and I so want them to be able to have that joy and peace that such a relationship offers.

God does not just want "duty prayers" at church on Wednesdays or Sundays. He wants our hearts, He wants our undivided attention!

But I am noticing more and more--as I minister to new Christians and even Christians who have were baptized 5, 10, even 20 or 30 years before--struggle to have an intimate relationship with Christ? And it is killing families and relationships! It is preventing many Christians from ever having the kind of real peace and joy and purpose God intended them to have. It makes sin struggles sooooo much more difficult to ever overcome.

Why is this?

Why are so many Christians avoiding a relationship with Christ? If we read the Psalms, we see a wonderful example of how David communicates with God. Whether he was upset, angry, fearful, or rejoicing--David shared everything with God! God so wants that relationship with us also!

We need to be teaching new Christians how to serve yes--but also how to have a personal relationship with their Savior! There are so many blessings that flow from such a relationship.

Romans 12:1-2 tells us:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Don't we want to have renewed minds that no longer keep us stuck in the muck and the mire? Don't we want to finally move past the life of "KNOWING JUST ENOUGH ABOUT CHRISTIANITY TO BE MISERABLE!" But instead be able to really be transformed into being more and more like Jesus everyday? Don't we want to not constantly be wondering which way to go or struggling with trying to make a decision? Wouldn't life be so much easier if we could more often discern and know what God's will is in every situation?

Such a life of blessings and not a lot of chaos and frustation is available to us--when we actually build a relationship with Jesus. If we do not make the effort to have that relationship, we constantly struggle with all kinds of crap!

Lets have a conversation.