You alone will answer God’s call in Heaven at the end of your life. Romans 14:12 says, “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” No one else can do that job for you.
I think it’s essential that we let that truth sink in because it’s easy to appear to know and love God but have a heart far from him. The unavoidable truth is that simply going through the motions of our religion is not enough to save our souls. It’s also not the same as having a personal relationship with Jesus.
The good news is that having a relationship with Jesus is often much easier than jumping through all the hoops of religion. All it requires is a simple prayer of faith that invites God in to be your Lord and Savior. From there is a baby step forward and another step towards the leading of the Holy Spirit. As long as your heart is committed to following his lead, you are His.
Growing Closer to God is a Process
If you find yourself stuck in a heartless religion, not sure what you believe, and struggling with questions, you're in a great place to start your journey of growing closer to God. Feeling the tension of our circumstances can push us to confront the routines and rituals we have relied on and evaluate if they are leading us where we need to go. Our discontentment is an invitation to look beyond easy answers and half-hearted religious participation. We grow closer to God when we confront our questions, lean into His Word, and ask him to reveal more of his character to our hearts.
I experienced this kind of faith crisis when I became a new mom. I had been a churchgoer for my whole life, familiar with the standard Christian verses, but when I became a mother, the world suddenly transformed into a terrifying place. I struggled to believe I could trust God, as evil seemed like too significant a threat for my beautiful children. Not to mention the idea of them dying struck fear into my heart.
My fear, anxiety, and questions set me on a journey to know God more truly and entirely for myself. I had inherited the faith of my parents but had not yet owned it for myself. I also realized that only I could choose to trust God fully; no one else could do that for me. I brought him my questions, my fears, and my frustration. He gently led me closer to him, and I’ve seen God do abundantly above and beyond all I could ask or imagine as we’ve grown closer these past 13 years of motherhood.
Don’t be afraid of doubts. Bring them to Jesus. God can draw us closer and show us who he is so that we can trust him more fully. James 4:8 says,
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Spiritual formation is a process of growth that requires an open heart and a commitment to knowing God. If we only look for easy answers and a convenient faith when things get tough, when religion becomes inconvenient, or when we lose interest, we will fall away from our faith. But a genuine desire to know God and to understand his way leads to a deeply rooted faith that will last a lifetime. Commit your heart to the process of knowing him, being patient for him to reveal his truth into your life in his time and his way.
God Responds to Our Faith
Matthew 17:20 says, “He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
As we come to Jesus with our faith, even as small as a tiny mustard seed, he brings things to life in our stories. He can give us the breakthrough, change our hearts and circumstances, wash us clean of our sin, and direct our paths with open doors and access to his miraculous peace. All we have to offer him is our faith.
If you desire to know God, offer this morsel of faith up to him. Ask him to show up in your story in a fresh way. Take a step of faith and watch him show up with his miracle-working power.
Sometimes, that step of faith is praying, telling Him you know religion alone is not enough; you need to know Him. It can change your life for His glory, trusting He will provide for you. It’s believing that He can heal you or someone you love. It’s telling the truth about your actions, believing He will walk you through the fallout and lead you towards healing.
Faith steps can be choosing to serve others in a new way. Maybe it's offering forgiveness when you’ve been determined to be bitter. It’s reading the Bible with an open heart, asking the Spirit to show you who God is through its pages. Agreeing to counseling when you need to make amends in your marriage. Deciding not to drink because it’s getting in the way of you living a whole life and determining to show up at church and get involved, even if you're not sure how you feel about God.
Whatever faith step God is leading you towards, as you faithfully take that step, God is faithful to show up on your behalf.
Spiritual Rhythms Help Build Our Relationship with God
While we don’t need to be strapped to religious regimes that lack meaning, creating spiritual rhythms in our lives does help build our relationship with God. The key to intimacy in every relationship is time shared, and the same is true regarding knowing Jesus.
Each person connects with God differently, but there are some staples of the Christian faith that we can all benefit from incorporating into our daily routines.
7 Pillars to Spiritual Growth
-Prayer (Colossians 4:2)
-Worship (Romans 12:1)
-Gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
-Community (Hebrews 10:24-25)
-Generosity (Luke 6:38)
-Bible Study (Psalm 119:105)
-Rest (Psalm 37:7)
As we seek to love Jesus, thoughtfully incorporating these practices into our lives is key. Diligence is part of a robust faith, but we don’t have to feel as though we have to be perfect in our practices. We meet Jesus daily by his grace, however we can, and truly every moment is holy when all we are is given as a living sacrifice to our Savior.
We Must Follow His Lead
John 8:12 says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
If we want to know God, we must be willing to follow him and surrender to his way. Thankfully, his way is the only path to an abundant life, so the reward for surrendering our pride is a good one! He is the good shepherd (John 10:11), leading us away from death and danger that seeks to consume our souls. God does not force us to follow him, though; we must choose him and his way.
Growing closer to God requires our participation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We must humbly seek Him, repent, and he will hear us and respond with love.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jacob Wackerhausen
