Wise Observer

The Productive Christian Series at ThePlacetoLearn.com

The Secrets to Moving Beyond A Casual Relationship With God

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel like you could talk to God
about anything? The kind of relationship where you and God talk
about more than blessing your family and friends and finances.
Perhaps you know or see people who seem to have this kind of
deep and personal relationship with God.

Well you can have it too. And, my prayer is that after reading
this article you will be well on your way to one of the most
intimate and exiting relationships you’ll ever have.

Someone may ask, “Why would I want a deeper relationship with
God? What are the benefits?” One of the major benefits is that
you will be more fulfilled, satisfied and productive. As you
learn more about God, you begin to walk more in step with Him
and that’s when life really gets exciting (Listen to our podcast
http://www.theplacetolearn.com/podcasts.html). If you truly want
to live life to the fullest, getting on and staying on the same
page with God is critical.

I believe there are three secrets to developing and maintaining
an intimate relationship with God. Why do I call them secrets?
Because, sometimes they seem to be hidden from common view,
elusive almost. Most of us desire to be closer with God, but for
some reason we can’t seem to get there or stay there for long.
So how do we do it?

Secret #1. Honesty

The naked truth is, God already knows what and how we think. He
knows our inner desires, all the good things we’ve done and the
things we wouldn’t dare want anyone to know. God knows our
dreams, desires, goals and more importantly, the wonderful
things He’s designed you to do and become.

Why tell Him something He already knows? Being transparent with
God has an opening and clarifying effect. It clears the air and
establishes an atmosphere of truth and honesty. Now you and God
can talk, really talk. There’s no secrets between Him and you.
Another effect it has is helping us be more honest with
ourselves. Sometimes we lie to ourselves about what’s really
going on inside of us. It’s too difficult to face so we ignore
things, or excuse them. Once we’re honest with ourselves, we’re
left with the question, “Now what am I going to do about this
situation or area of my life?” And, this question continues to
surface until we either take action or avoid it again.

Acknowledging the elephant in the room has a clearing effect and
this is what God wants so that He can have open and honest
communication with you.

Secret #2. Obedience

Jesus says in John 14:21, 23 that those who love Him will keep
His commandments. They will obey Him. And, if they obey Him they
are demonstrating their love for Him and will be loved by Him
and the Father. But, there’s a bonus, Jesus says, “I will love
[them] and manifest myself to [them].” In verse 24, He says, “.
. .and We will come to [them] and make Our home with [them].”
Wow! If you really want to move past a casual relationship with
God, Jesus tells us how right there is those three verses.

What about those times when you know what you’re supposed to do,
but don’t feel like doing it? Ahh, I’m glad you asked. Ask God
at that very moment to give you both the will and desire to do
what you know you should do, whether you feel like it or not. If
you still fail, don’t worry, don’t have a pity party, just get
back on track as quickly as possible by being honest with God
about what you did or didn’t do, ask for forgiveness and press
on. Ask God to help you be successful the next time and keep
moving forward.

Secret #3. Time

In any relationship, time is an essential element for intimacy.
Quantity usually takes priority over quality and here’s why.
Some things are only revealed as we spend more time in the
presence of another. The more opportunities we have to
experience that person in different situations, the more we get
to know them. It is this way with our relationship with God as
well.

How much time is enough? That’s between you and God. Spend as
much time as possible thinking about and sharing your most
personal thoughts and feelings with God. The more you do this,
the more you open the channels of communication with God and
thereby grow closer to Him.

Summary:

Honesty - Be transparent with yourself and God at all costs at
all times.

Obedience - Do it anyway, even when you don’t feel like it. When
you don’t feel like it, ask God to give you the will and
desire to do it.

Time - Think about God, talk to Him and listen to Him whenever
and wherever you can.

The bible tells a story about the prophet Ezekiel who envisioned a valley full of dry bones. God led Ezekiel back and forth in the midst of this valley, surrounded by dry bones. God asked Ezekiel “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel replied, “God, only you can answer that.” God commanded Ezekiel to speak life into the many dry bones. Ezekiel prophesied to the bones as God commanded, and before he finished speaking, he heard a rattling noise as the bones came together, bone to bone. As he looked, muscle and skin covered the bones, but the bones still had no life. Then God commanded him to speak life into the bones, and as he spoke the words, an amazingly great host came back to life and stood upon their feet.

The bones in Ezekiel’s vision symbolized the people of Israel, whose lives seemed as hopeless as dry bones coming to life. Humanly speaking, their future seemed as hopeless as that of a skeleton regaining flesh and coming back to life. Oh how hopeless the situations in their lives seemed.

During this time of economic hardship and distress, you too, may find yourself in the midst of a valley. In the midst of a valley that seems hopeless. Your valley may be a life of loneliness or sorrow. Your valley may be a life of struggling with finances, ill health, or tarnished relationships. Your valley may be a life of indecision, of not knowing which way to turn. Whatever that valley may be, know that just as Ezekiel witnessed — there is hope in your valley.

Don’t lose hope — because if you lose hope, your become lifeless spiritually, mentally and physically. Make the decision today, that you will speak life into your situation with positive words. Then take the necessary actions today, to regain that hope into your situation.

Free yourself from the valley of fear and hopelessness that captivates you from making that change–because only you can.

There is hope in the valley — there is hope in YOUR valley.

————————-

Copyright 2003 by Audrina Jones Bunton. REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this article only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged. You can find other articles to choose from at http://www.purposefully-living.com/mailing%20list.htm

Motivational Speaker, Audrina Jones Bunton was born the seventh of eight children in her household in Pinehurst, North Carolina into a loving and committed Christian home. As she has 2 children, over 40 nieces and nephews and great- nieces and nephews, it is not unusual to find her under the same roof with many of her maternal five-generation family on weekends and on holidays. In her youth, she fondly recalls traveling throughout the U.S. with her family, as her parents ministered from state to state year after yearhelping people as they traveled.

A graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Audrina is a Competent Toastmaster of Toastmasters International and serves as the North Carolina District Sergeant At Arms. She is a former counselor of the Durham Pregnancy Support Services, a Christian-oriented crisis pregnancy center in Durham, North Carolina and is currently a Social Research Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Audrina is currently studying at the Master’s Divinity School in Evansville, Indiana with a combined concentration in Biblical Counseling and IABC certification.

She also serves as the Youth Director at the Come As You Are Evangelistic Center in Aberdeen, North Carolina where her mother, Lydia Jones is the pastor.

Modeling after a song that her mother so often sings, and one that Martin Luther King, Jr. often quoted, her life and speeches are based on the following lyrics, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain.”

Audrina resides with her husband William, and 2 children, Audrina Lorraine and William Woodrow.