It is very possible to have a deep, fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ.As a matter of fact, that's what He wants - you were created to fellowship with Him! Unfortunately, oftentimes we find ourselves at arm's length spiritually.We attend church every Sunday as an act of obedience, but we don't actively engage in praise and worship, or we listen to the sermon, but fail to apply the Word to our daily life.But, there's good news! If you desire a close, intimate relationship with Christ, it is within your reach.He would like nothing more than to befriend you! You can shorten the distance between you and Christ by taking the initiative to genuinely seek a deeper relationship with Him.Here are 5 simple ways to draw nearer to Him daily..1.Pray without ceasing.Do you have a designated "prayer time" each day? Perhaps you pray while still lying in bed in the morning or during your daily commute to work.Maybe you routinely isolate your lunch hour or a few minutes before bed for prayer.Having a designated prayer time has its place in the life of a Christian, but it can inadvertently become a taxing obligation.Adhering to a rigorous schedule of prayer can cause us to lose the sincerity of our intimate moments with our Lord.Instead, try conversing with Him throughout the course of your day.Share your thoughts with Him while in the shower in the morning.Talk with him while standing at the water cooler at work.Ask Him to speak to you while preparing dinner in the evening.Thank Him for the beautiful weather during your afternoon walk.Spend time alone with Him while you sit in rush hour traffic.Spend those moments listening for the Holy Spirit.Prayer can be simple.It need not be obligatory and draining.Challenge yourself to hold loving conversations with God all day long.Any time you spend all day, every day honestly and openly conversing with someone, the result will always be a deeper, more enriching relationship!2.Go on a "God Watch".In Experiencing God, one of my favorite Bible studies by Henry Blackaby, he advises us to watch what God is doing around us and get involved in His work.Take a few days to watch God moving and working around you.Keep your eyes open for opportunities He creates for you to share the love of Christ with friends, family and co-workers.Say to Him, "God, I am available for you today.Show me where to work in your Kingdom." When you adjust your will to God's will, and you do what He desires, He will use you in ways you never imagined! St.Matthew 7.7 says ".Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." If you look for Him, you will find Him working all around you.And when you get involved in His work, it will undoubtedly draw you closer to Him.And, as an added bonus, it will increase your faith one hundredfold!3.Sing His praises! The Psalms say that the Lord inhabits the praise of His people, so sing His praises and watch Him draw nearer to you! Spend some time everyday in praise and worship.While driving in your car, turn your radio on the local Christian music station, or put in your favorite worship CD, and intentionally lift up your voice to the Lord.For just those few moments, give Him your undivided attention.Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! (Ps 100.1).He loves to be praised and adored.This form of worship ushers in the presence of God.There are countless stories in the Bible where God moved on behalf of those who praised Him.Pour your praises out and allow Him to speak to your heart.(And remember, God honors sacrificial praise.So, make a concerted effort to praise Him when you're at your lowest point in life.When you don't feel like it is the best time to command your lips to praise Him.He will honor your sacrifice and meet you right where you are! ).4.Read His Word.In order to deepen any relationship, you must get to know the other person.John 1.1 tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.So if you want to get to know Him, you must read His Word! Learn His likes and dislikes, His ways and His desires.Familiarize yourself with His promises and His principles.Take a few moments each day and truly focus on the Word of God.As you read the scriptures, pray and ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word, and the Holy Spirit will help you to understand and internalize them.Then you will be able to apply his Word to your life and share it with others.The key here is not is not to just know the Word from a place of intellect, but to connect to it on a spiritual level.This can only be done with the help of the Holy Spirit.Once you begin to experience God through His Word, you will undoubtedly feel the sense of peace and fulfillment that come from a close, meaningful relationship with Him.5.Show Him Some Love! How do we love Christ? By keeping His commandments.It's that simple.In St.Matthew 22.37-40 Jesus says to do two things. love Him with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul and love your neighbor as yourself.And no, they are not always easy (especially the latter) but what Christ did for us wasn't easy either! So reach out to your friends and family members.Volunteer in your community - lend a helping hand at your church, or at a local elementary school.Take food to the local homeless shelter or play music for a nursing home.Sow into local non-profits or national charities.Whatever God lays on your heart to do.Do it! There's no doubt about whether or not this will deepen your relationship with Christ.As a matter of fact, John 14.21 assures us it will."Whoever has my commandments and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (Emphasis mine).Christ wants to fellowship with His creation.His Word says that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.(James 4.8) This process does not have to be difficult; it just has to be sincere and consistent.Each day, throughout the course of your day, give of yourself to Him, and just as the Word promises, He will respond.When you take these simple steps, an exciting, fulfilling relationship with your Maker will soon follow!
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