Want to get closer to Jesus and grow your relationship with Him? Well, here are some tips on how to do that! I know life can get complicated, and figuring out how to have a healthy relationship with Jesus can be tricky, but here’s some advice!
Let Go of Your Past
The first step to growth is letting go of the past. Isaiah 43:18 says, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.” God wants to do something new with you, and He cannot do that when you hold on to the past. The enemy likes to try to put shame and guilt on us when we mess up; he wants to hold our sins over our heads and make us feel like we can’t have a relationship with God. However, God still wants a relationship with us even when we mess up. So, you can let go of the past and forgive yourself because God forgives you when you repent! So don’t consider your past sins because God doesn’t! He wants something new with you, so be open to being made new with Jesus and having a relationship with Him! God wants it, and He wants you to come back to Him. Romans 8:38-39 NKJV says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing separates us from the love of God; that’s why you can’t allow your past to hold you down. Know that God loves you unconditionally and wants an intimate relationship with you. So, stop being afraid, God doesn’t hate you, and your sin is not greater than God’s love for you. Once you realize that, you’re on your way to having a wonderful relationship with God.
Accept Change
I Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Accept that you will no longer be the same once you accept Jesus. The Holy Spirit will change you from the inside out, and you won’t be comfortable doing what you used to do. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we must accommodate a lifestyle that is welcoming to the Holy Spirit. That means not living a life of sin, eating healthier, and no more cursing. Change can also mean no longer having certain conversations, not hanging with certain ‘friends’ anymore, or going to certain places. God calls us higher and to be like Him when we pursue a relationship. So, with that, all things must be new and old things done away with! Old habits, old friends, old sins, and guilt and shame. Prepare to be completely different and remade in the image of Christ. It can be scary, but it is worth it to become the person God called you to be! The more open you are to change, the better your relationship with Jesus will be! Because He will challenge the way we think and the way we believe! A relationship with Jesus means constantly growing our faith, changing our ways, and becoming new! So be ready for it all!
Spend Time
To truly grow, you have to spend time with Jesus! There’s no way you are building a close relationship with anyone you aren’t spending one-on-one time with! James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you,” If you never look to spend time with God, He will never draw near to you. You must reach out to Him because God can’t build a relationship with you without YOU. It is a two-way street; the more you read the Word, the more He will talk to you, and the more you pray, the more He’ll intervene in your life. You must reach out if you want a relationship with Jesus! And what does that look like? Well, it’s as simple as praying, reading your Bible, and listening to sermons and teachings. Spending time is just getting yourself in the presence of God in any way you can! This is how He can talk to and enlighten you with knowledge. When you spend time, you’ll get revelation from God and insight that will grow you spiritually. Also, the Bible says in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” So, as you seek after God, you will be satisfied. It is not a waste of time; it is worth it! God blesses those who diligently seek Him and works wonders in their life. So, start spending more time with Jesus today and see Him change your circumstances and your relationship with Him grow!
Trust
You’ll have to let go of many things when growing with Jesus—fear, friends, sins, etc. But in everything, trust God! Trust that He is with you, loves you, cares for you, and overall knows best! Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” So, trust in God’s plan for you and know it is good! Not everyone can come for the journey, and not every habit can come, either! But know that God got you! Once you decide to trust, you’ll have peace that surpasses all understanding! (Phillippians 4:7) A relationship with God can be tricky initially, but it doesn’t have to be scary! Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Remember, God is with you, and this relationship is also important to Him! So, trust Him and know that God is with you every step of the way!
Expect Greatness
Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” As you get to know Jesus more, wonderful things will occur in your life! You should expect good things as you seek a relationship with Jesus because He will reward you! Hebrews 11:6 says, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So, as we pursue a relationship with Jesus, we should expect our circumstances to change for the better and, overall, a better life! His glory will be revealed in your life in ways you never imagined! So, the things you must give up and change will be worth it! God doesn’t tell us to change for no reason; He does it because He loves us and knows that our lives will be better through change. Building a relationship with Him will improve our circumstances, joy and faith level, and overall life! Jesus will turn your life around, and you’ll never regret it!
I hope these tips help evaluate your relationship with Jesus or encourage you to have a relationship with Him! And if you don’t have a relationship with Him but want one, I invite you to say this prayer.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of my sins and turn my back to them. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I accept Him into my heart now. I believe Jesus is Lord, and By faith, I give Him my whole life, heart, mind, and soul. Amen!” If you just prayed that prayer, comment, ‘I just got saved!’ and profess your faith to the world! God loves you, and you are destined for great things! I hope your journey with Jesus will be filled with joy and blessings!
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