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It is not a secret that to build a relationship with someone, you need to spend time with them. Think about how you developed the relationship with your spouse or your best friend. It took time, didn’t it? It required developing a personal interest in them, understanding what made them tick, and eventually placing their interests above your own. Building a relationship with God is no different.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and are then granted salvation by God’s saving grace, we are not called into religion, we are called into a relationship. And this is not meant to be a casual acquaintance. Note that the question below is not; ‘which is the greatest suggestion’. We are strongly encouraged to LOVE the Lord our God.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-38)
The best way to stay in relationship with your Creator is to spend time with Him every day reading His instruction manual. And might I suggest that it should be of primary importance to you? Notice that Jesus says, “This is the first and greatest commandment.” Throughout the Scriptures, God has given us clear direction as to the importance of this task. Shortly after creating the 10 commandments, God gave this instruction to the Israelites.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)
While church attendance and Christian fellowship play important roles in your spiritual maturity, nothing will grow your relationship with God more intimately than studying God’s Word. Personal Bible study allows God to speak to you directly. He knows you better than anyone else. He knows your dreams, goals, and aspirations. He knows your fears, struggles, and weaknesses. He wants to speak with you through his Living Word!
The secret is in consistency.
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. The farmer sows the word.” (Mark 4:9, 11, 13)
In the parable of the sower referenced above, Jesus tells us that the secret of the kingdom of God has been given to us in God’s Word. Do you need any more reason than that to spend time studying the Bible? Of course, I am not suggesting that you will ever understand all of God’s plans, however, there are many secrets that He is willing to reveal to you if you will only take the time to discover them. And that is a perfect lead-in to part two of this conversation.
The second part of the discussion has to do with your commitment level to studying God’s Word. Are you casual and inconsistent in this effort, or have you developed an intentional and consistent habit of searching for truth in the Bible?
As Christians, we all mature at our own pace. I believe God reveals truth to each one of us according to His timing; however, the responsibility is ours to pursue that knowledge. God has given us that free will. If we refer to the parable of the sower once again, Jesus said this of the seed sown in good soil.
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” (Mark 4:8)
A farmer does not plant a seed, then walk away from it and expect it to mature into a healthy plant. He waters it, nurtures it, clears the weeds away from it, prunes it, and then enjoys the harvest. Your relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ is no different. The seed of salvation has been planted in you. What are you doing to nurture that seed into a prospering soul? And have you considered the potential harvest from your commitment to pursue a personal relationship with God?
Once I opened the Bible, the truth began to jump off the page at me. I marveled at the revelations and their application to my life; however, I was not consistent in reading the Bible. I was attending church on a regular basis and hung on every word the pastor shared from the pulpit. My corporate worship was improving weekly but developing my personal relationship with Jesus had not yet become a priority.
Like most baby Christians, my intentions were good, but personal Bible study was something that I would attend to if I had any spare time. I was like Paul in Romans 7:18b: “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” I had many friends, including my pastor, that were encouraging me in this area, but at the time, I felt like I was making sufficient progress in my Christian walk.
If the key to building a relationship is spending time with someone, then it was imperative that I begin to dedicate time to building my relationship with Jesus. I tried several different options, but for me, I found that setting aside 30 – 45 minutes first thing in the morning worked best for me. My mind is clearest when I am showered, dressed, and ready to take on the day. The house is quiet and free from distractions, and I can focus on God’s Word and spend time in prayer, sharing my thoughts, hopes, concerns, joys, and intercessory prayers with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Don’t allow the enemy to distract you.
Remember, God wants you to be victorious in your Christian walk! He has an agenda for your life and earnestly wants you to succeed. That success is different for each one of us and most likely requires a series of small successes along the way. But one thing is certain, God cannot steer a parked car! It is inherent upon you to develop a habit of seeking God’s wisdom before He can complete His plan in you.
If you have not already established the habit of setting aside time each day to study God’s Word, will you make the necessary decision to build that consistency? Are the gifts and promises of God enough motivation for you to build that habit starting today?
It is generally accepted that anything you do consistently for 21 days will develop into a habit. There are thirty one easy-to-read chapters packed full of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Might I suggest that you start immediately and set aside the same time every day to read one chapter until you create the habit that leads to victorious Christian living?
If you find yourself struggling to make that commitment, may I ask you another question? Where do you suppose the thoughts come from that are preventing you from maintaining that commitment? Do you suppose that Satan would be opposed to you studying your Bible every day and might offer up every kind of excuse to sidetrack you?
Don’t let the enemy distract, dissuade, or sidetrack you. Remember: “That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” (Galatians 5:1-8) Begin to pursue the Holy Spirit's persuasion in your life. Start reading your Bible today!
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