Nurturing a Relationship with God

The journey to building a relationship with God doesn’t have a strict sequence; if you asked three different people, you’d likely get three different approaches. Whether you start with learning God’s word, listening for His voice, or talking to Him, the important thing is to begin somewhere and eventually integrate all three aspects.

Think of it like learning to hit a golf ball. At first, you just swing as hard as you can to make contact. Those initial swings might not be perfect, but you have to start somewhere to improve. Similarly, start making an effort to connect with God, and gradually, your relationship will grow stronger.

God constantly reaches out to us. We have His word in the Bible and His signs in the world around us. We’ll delve deeper into these in future articles, but for now, let’s focus on the fact that He’s always trying to connect with us.

As the Chinese proverb goes, “Every journey begins with a single step.” So, let’s take that first step towards a closer relationship with God: learning to talk to Him.

Building a relationship with God is much like building one with another person, where communication is key. Effective communication involves both speaking and listening. A one-sided conversation quickly leads to frustration and abandonment. But unlike humans, God is infinitely patient and never gives up on us, even if we haven’t communicated with Him in a while.

To start building your relationship with God, open the lines of communication. This may take some practice, especially if it’s been a while since you last spoke with Him. Set aside time each day to think about God and talk to Him. Imagine what you’d say if you were face-to-face with Him and then express those thoughts in prayer.

Don’t limit your conversations with God to times of desperation or need. Speak to Him during good times and even when you don’t have much to say. You can talk to God anytime and anywhere—while driving, showering, mowing the lawn, washing dishes, or taking a break at work. There are no rules about where or when you can talk to God—just start talking.

The more you practice, the easier it will become to communicate with God. He’s always there, waiting to hear from you. So, start talking to God today.