A Real Relationship

As Christians, we have accepted Christ, believe in His perfect example and loving redemption, and have allowed Him to change us in some way at some point, but does it stop there?  Is accepting it simply enough?  Do we just continue to live the life we were living prior to this faith, but throw up few prayers here and there?  Are we living out a relationship with Christ or are we attempting to have the best of both worlds?  


I have found that so often we will offer a prayer in a time of need, check off our bible reading for the day or week, try to live by our moral guidelines, and get nothing out of any of it other than the pseudo-satisfaction that we have done our "Christian deeds" for the time being.   We pray, but may not actually expect anything to happen.  We read His word, but do not take the time to comprehend, learn, and grow.  We know our moral compass, but we make excuses to toe the line or even cross it more often than not.  


I believe this all stems from the lack of a real relationship with God.  We must be in constant communication, fully committed to hearing His still small voice, and growing closer to the One who gave it all in order to develop this relationship.  When we distance ourselves from Him, we are prone to falling back into our old lives, into the temptations that so easily entangle us, and losing sight of that relationship altogether.  This falling back into worldly ways in written about in Galatians.  


Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.  So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
~Galatians 4:8-9


Why do we allow ourselves to fall back?  I believe whole-heartedly that this occurs when we lose sight of our intimate relationship with Christ, when we stop serving Him with our whole hearts and instead just go through the motions.  When we take notice of how we are living our lives, I believe that many of us have allowed ourselves at one time or another to sink back and lose sight of this real relationship with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for you, He longs for an open line of communication, to share with You His plans for your life, to lavish you with love and forgiveness, and for you to truly get to know Him.  When we fully surrender to this life, to this real relationship with Christ, I believe our lives will look less like Galatians 4:8-9 and a lot more like Psalm 63:1-4.


  O God, you are my God;
      I earnestly search for you.
   My soul thirsts for you;
      my whole body longs for you
   in this parched and weary land
      where there is no water.
  I have seen you in your sanctuary
      and gazed upon your power and glory.
  Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
      how I praise you!
  I will praise you as long as I live,
      lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
~Psalm 63:1-4


When we truly enter into that real relationship with Christ, the relationship He has intended for us all along, it will no longer feel like an obligation.  Rather, going to Christ with everything in our lives will become a necessity.  We will thirst for Him, ache for Him, and crave to have more of Him.  When we can accept that our relationship with Christ is the aspect of Christianity of the utmost importance, then we can truly be freed from that old life and begin to delve deeper into an unforgettable journey with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Seek Him out, talk with Him at every moment of your life, live out your faith, and before you know it, that real relationship that you have been seeking for so long with be laid out right in front of you, growing deeper, wider, and fuller with every passing moment.  It is something I guarantee you will not regret.