How to Build a Close Relationship With God 【2nd point】

[Catherine]

I believe the second thing we need to do is that to Often Ponder God’s Words and Practice the Truth

The Lord Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). God’s words are the truth, they can show us the way, and they are the principles by which we act and conduct ourselves. By reading more of God’s words and understanding the truth, and by bringing God’s words into our lives so that we may experience and practice them, we come to live out the reality of God’s words, and our relationship with God becomes ever more normalized.

A lot of the time, we neglect to read God’s words because we are busy with our jobs, or with our families, or with our careers. We cannot quiet our hearts before God, much less put God’s words into practice. We grow farther and farther away from God, our spiritual lives gradually become barren, we fail to understand thoroughly many of the things we encounter in our lives, and we grope blindly around in the darkness, without direction or purpose. If we can read God’s words often and ponder God’s will and requirements within His words, then we will be able to practice correctly in accordance with His words, and our relationship with God will become normalized. As the Lord Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). We discover in God’s words that God’s essence is faithful, that God loves honest people, that He requires us to be honest people, and that only honest people bear the likeness of a genuine human being and are able to attain God's salvation and enter into His kingdom. Once we have understood this requirement God has of us, then when in our daily lives we wish to tell lies and engage in deception in order to protect our own interests, we are able to realize that this type of behavior and practice is hated by God. We are then able to consciously seek what we should do to be honest people and what to do to conform with God’s will. Once we have forsaken our flesh and have put God’s words into practice, our spirits feel incredibly at peace and at ease, free and liberated, and our relationship with God draws even closer.

 

[Cathode]

We can not approach Jesus halfheartedly, or lukewarmly, His incredible nature does not understand the concept, He spits that out on the dirt, and does not recognise it. He is burning desire, burning Love.

He understands total commitment and self giving, complete abandonment to Him without worrying what is required of you after that. No timidity but bold trust, that is what makes Him smile, He really delights in that.

This is approaching as little children, unqualified trust, bringing all that you are. Take a running leap into His arms with full force.

First we desire His Presence and His Holy Will to Reign in us, we ask for this each morning, and throughout the day be attentive and faithful to His Holy Presence within us.
Take all your work, griefs and pains to Jesus throughout the day, bring Jesus into your entire life. Ask that your mind thinks and heart beats in unison with His.

At night ask Jesus to give you a greater desire for Him as you are docile and asleep and for Him to throw out all disordered attachments in your heart.
That there is no other thing we put before Him and our love for Him.

 

[Silverhair]

I believe the second thing we need to do is that to Often Ponder God’s Words and Practice the Truth

The Lord Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). God’s words are the truth, they can show us the way, and they are the principles by which we act and conduct ourselves. By reading more of God’s words and understanding the truth, and by bringing God’s words into our lives so that we may experience and practice them, we come to live out the reality of God’s words, and our relationship with God becomes ever more normalized.

A lot of the time, we neglect to read God’s words because we are busy with our jobs, or with our families, or with our careers. We cannot quiet our hearts before God, much less put God’s words into practice. We grow farther and farther away from God, our spiritual lives gradually become barren, we fail to understand thoroughly many of the things we encounter in our lives, and we grope blindly around in the darkness, without direction or purpose. If we can read God’s words often and ponder God’s will and requirements within His words, then we will be able to practice correctly in accordance with His words, and our relationship with God will become normalized. As the Lord Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). We discover in God’s words that God’s essence is faithful, that God loves honest people, that He requires us to be honest people, and that only honest people bear the likeness of a genuine human being and are able to attain God's salvation and enter into His kingdom. Once we have understood this requirement God has of us, then when in our daily lives we wish to tell lies and engage in deception in order to protect our own interests, we are able to realize that this type of behavior and practice is hated by God. We are then able to consciously seek what we should do to be honest people and what to do to conform with God’s will. Once we have forsaken our flesh and have put God’s words into practice, our spirits feel incredibly at peace and at ease, free and liberated, and our relationship with God draws even closer.

I believe that God honors the honest cry of those that seek Him. "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

 

[Cathode]

I believe that God honors the honest cry of those that seek Him. "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

If people pray with their heart, and are real with Jesus, Jesus will be real with them.

Pray with your heart, not with lip service. Pray as if Jesus is sitting right next to you, because He truly is.

We often pray wonderfully from the heart when we are in some dire circumstance , we must learn to pray from the heart in ordinary circumstances of everyday life.

It is in the ordinary times of daily life and faithful duties with Jesus that we fill our lamps with finest brightest burning oil. It’s an oil that can not be purchased at any price, it’s the oil of faithful and attentive daily love between you and Jesus.

The flame of Love between you and Jesus goes out to the world. The Love, warmth and Light that reaches others is the extension of the Love, warmth and Light between you and Jesus.

Our purpose is not just to be saved, it is to Love.

 

[Cathode]

We must bring our heart and mind to prayer, be ready for the promptings and leading in prayer.
Start by acts of faith, trust and Love. Each meeting with the Lord has a time and place. Visualise Jesus at the well or at another time or place and be present with Jesus in His life.
Over time you will be drawn in by grace to contemplation, not then by mental effort, but by God’s power, present with Jesus as a disciple.

The intimacy of discipleship takes place in contemplation, heart and mind.

 

[Silverhair]

We must bring our heart and mind to prayer, be ready for the promptings and leading in prayer.
Start by acts of faith, trust and Love. Each meeting with the Lord has a time and place. Visualise Jesus at the well or at another time or place and be present with Jesus in His life.
Over time you will be drawn in by grace to contemplation, not then by mental effort, but by God’s power, present with Jesus as a disciple.

The intimacy of discipleship takes place in contemplation, heart and mind.

You are speaking of contemplative prayer. When I was still driving I would talk to God all the time. Prayer for me is just like speaking to my dad, it's a conversation.

 

[Cathode]

Contemplation is not our effort in prayer, it is when we are drawn up by grace to a higher level of prayer and union by God.

This happens when we allow ourselves to be completely dependent on God, a higher and deeper level of communication happens.

 

[Cathode]

Brush away distractions and disordered thoughts. Keep brushing them away like a fly, and eventually they stay away.