Knowing Jesus

The most important relationship in your life is the one you have with God. This step comes first. Nothing else will work until you get your relationship right with Him. This relationship is referred to as a vertical relationship. Once you have worked through this process and have a good relationship with God, He will give you the skills to have good relationships with others, which are referred to as horizontal relationships. Without a good relationship with God, you will never be able to have good, lasting relationships with others. You need to get things right with God first this is where everything begins, and once you get this in order, every other area of your life will begin improving. You will see positive changes taking place in your feelings, your attitudes, your thoughts, and your desires as you grow closer to God. This is a day-by-day process. You’ll need to be diligent and determined to stay with it. And, you will have to let go of some old habits, which is sometimes difficult for people to do. However, know you are stepping into a new and better way of life – so be willing to let go of the old ways. It’s important to realize, if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be right where you are. Ask yourself, do you always want to be right where you are? No, of course not. There is a better way of life awaiting you. Think of it this way – the changes you’re now willing to make will be a natural part of you coming into your rightful relationship with God. You will be developing into who you were created to be. Embrace it!

Another important thing for you to realize is that you won’t find fulfillment until you establish a relationship with God. This is another good reason for you to develop your relationship with Him. Your spirit yearns for you to be in relationship with God and to fellowship with Him. You and I were created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). God is a Spirit. He is a triune Being: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Our spirit seeks to be connected with the Spirit of God. God is our creator and He is our Father. We belong together, and when we’re separated from God, we feel emptiness. Nothing can fill that emptiness – only God. Our destiny is to be connected to God, our Father, who has created us. His love for us is tremendous and powerful. His love comes into us and completes us. When we come into relationship with Him, we feel His manifested presence and His magnificent love as it dwells within us. It is beyond explanation and description with words, but you will know it once you experience it.

As you continue to prepare, you will also need to decide to accept and believe several basic, fundamental truths which are essential in developing your relationship with God. First, you need to decide that God does exist. Next, you will need to decide to believe the Bible is God’s divinely inspired truth, written by God to guide us in learning how He wants us to live. The Word of God says all scripture is God-breathed and the Bible also teaches that God is its Author (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Then, you will need to decide you are willing to accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. This means you are asking Jesus into your heart and totally surrendering your heart to Him. Romans 10:9-10 tells us: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Not only is this where your relationship with God begins, but this is also where salvation takes place. In accepting Jesus as your Savior, you are taking a step of faith; everyone who is a Christian has taken this step. Without accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you cannot have any relationship with God. The Bible clearly states Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and none can come to God the Father but by Him (John 14:6). Therefore, every Christian has to come to the Father by receiving the gift of salvation through Jesus.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the basis for everything in your Christian walk. Faith believes God’s Word (Mark 11:23-24). The Word of God says the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). It also says that man does not live by bread alone, but also lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The Bible is God’s Word and His Word is the foundation of every Christian’s faith and lifestyle.

Once you have developed your personal relationship with God, words cannot express the joy you will have or the peace you will feel. In addition, you will develop a genuine self-confidence, and you’ll experience a blessed life.