Do you desire to start a genuine relationship with God? Do you want to start following Him and live your life for His glory?
It is not easy to be an authentic follower of God. It is not enough to attend church every Sunday or say a prayer before meals or bedtime. Being a true Christian means you exhibit Christlikeness in your daily life. It means obeying God in every area of your life.
However, living for God is the most fulfilling commitment ever. It may not be easy since you can expect the world to throw more problems at you, but it is worth it. Anyway, life on earth is only temporary, and your real life begins when you enter eternal life where you can be with God forever.
So, if you are serious about starting a relationship with God, here are some ways that can help you to open your heart to Him.
1. Ask God to Help You Draw Closer to Him.
It is not easy to start a relationship with God. The sinful human nature would keep pulling you away from Him. Therefore, you better humble yourself before the Lord and ask Him to draw you closer to Him.
John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
2. Evaluate Why You Could Not Give Time to God in the Past.
You should also take time to evaluate yourself. Find out the reasons why you would not seek God before. Was it because of busyness? Peer pressure? Other priorities? Or you simply did not think you needed Him? You need to decide that you will not let them stop you from seeking the Lord anymore.
3. Decide to Repent and Turn Away from the Sins.
Sin is the main reason why humans are separated from God. Choosing to live in sin means consciously disobeying God’s commands and rebelling against Him. For this reason, you need to decide to leave your habitual sins behind, such as fornication, lying, and dishonoring your parents. Yes, it is easier said than done, but with God’s help, it is possible. You just need to start with determination.
4. Confess Your Sins to the Lord, and Ask Him to Help You Change.
Aside from deciding to turn away from your sins, it is also important to confess your sins and ask forgiveness from the Lord. He promised to forgive anyone who confesses and repents from their sins.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
5. Decide to let go of all unforgiveness.
Knowing that God has forgiven you your sins and treats you with grace, choose to treat others the same way. Decide to forgive those who have offended you. Do not let anger and grudge keep your heart impure. It will keep you away from God.
6. Contemplate on God’s Grace and Goodness.
Realizing how good and gracious God is to you will draw you closer to Him. No matter how many times you have failed, He still gives you chances to stand again and fix your life. This should be enough motivation to trust and love Him.
7. Take Time to Marvel at His Creations.
Another way to open your heart to God is by appreciating His creations. Just look around you and marvel at the beauty of the nature God created. Look at the sky at dawn, the tranquil blue sea, and even the flight of birds flying at dusk. Take time to sit under the shade of the tree, smell the fragrant flowers, and cuddle an adorable puppy.
8. Listen to Testimonies of People Who Experienced God’s Miracles.
If you want to convince yourself that God is truly alive and good, listen to the testimonies of people who have witnessed His miracles. You can find true stories of the Lord’s faithfulness on the internet. Some Christian organizations post articles or videos of interviews with believers who have been changed by God, healed from sickness, or experienced divine intervention in their situations.
9. Ask a Christian Friend to Help You.
You can also ask a spiritually matured friend to pray for you and help you start with your walk with God. Then, you can go with that person to attend their church service or small group session. Or you can agree to have a regular Bible study together.
10. Attend a Local Bible-believing Church.
Attending a church will help you be open to God as well. As you fellowship with other believers, their passion for following Christ can inspire you. You can also be encouraged by hearing their stories of how faithful God is in their lives and learn more about God through their activities.
11. Join a Life Group or a Bible Study Group.
You must not be content with attending church services. Ask the local church if they have regular small group meetings that you can join. Some churches call it a Bible study group, while others call it a life group or another name.
12. Start to Study the Bible.
If you want your heart to be open to God, you need to know who He really is. That is the only way you can fully trust Him. Nothing can help you better know God’s character, will, and promises than the Bible. Therefore, start reading and meditating on it.
13. Use a Devotional Book.
There are many good devotional books that you can read alongside the Bible. It can inspire you more to read God’s Word, and you can learn many things from them too. There are different types of devotional books catering to different users. Some are exclusive for dads, moms, teenagers, singles, and married individuals.
14. Begin a Regular Prayer Time.
Aside from studying the Bible, it is also essential to nurture your prayer life. Praying allows you to confess your sins, thank God for the blessings, present your requests and needs, and ask the Lord for guidance.
15. Pour Out Yourself to Him Like a Friend.
When you pray, do it like God is just sitting beside or in front of you. Avoid treating prayer as a ritual or magic spell. Instead, talk to God from the bottom of your heart, expressing your innermost feelings to Him. Talk to Him just like how you would talk to your BFF.
16. Sing and Listen to Worship Songs.
You can also sing praise and worship songs to the Lord. Then, when you spend time with the Lord, sing to Him with sincerity. And instead of listening to sad songs that can make you feel melancholic after, you can fill your playlist with Christian songs. Listening to them will inspire you to keep trusting God.
17. Listen to Sermons Online.
If you are not content with hearing sermons on Sundays, you can also look for preaching videos on YouTube, social media, and other online platforms. Just be careful in choosing the preachers to listen to. Make sure their sermons are biblically correct.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns us, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Believe in Christ as Your Lord and Savior
You can do all the abovementioned ways but still end up far from God. So before doing all of them, make sure that you have already put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You can only be saved through Him, and your salvation is the guarantee that you become part of God’s family.
Online courses recommended for you：
- Prophetic School And Hearing The Voice of God
This course is for any believer who is hungry for God’s power to flow through them, bless, and minister to people. - 15 Essential Biblical Texts
15 key Biblical texts you can use to bring deeper meaning to your life for anyone interested in creating a more meaningful life through Biblical wisdom. - The Resurrection of the Son of God
Study of the afterlife and the idea of resurrection.
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