In a Relationship

By David VanEpps

It wasn’t five minutes after he asked her out when she promptly went to Facebook and changed her status.  No longer was she single or “it’s complicated” but rather “In a Relationship.”  That status is so important to so many people – in a relationship.  She was now connected to someone, with a possible future together.  She had companionship, security, confidence, someone to care for, someone who could care for her, and many of the other benefits of relationships.

I personally know someone else who wants to flip their status to “In a Relationship.”  God.

God Wants a Relationship with You

God designed us in His image (Genesis 1:27).  He designed us to be like Him, and He desired a relationship with us from the very beginning of humanity. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Unfortunately, in the Garden of Eden, original sin was committed by Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:6).  That sin separated us from God.

Through God’s love for us, He restored that relationship.  The most famous Bible verse, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  God loved us, so God gave his Son to restore His relationship with humanity.

It’s simple, God wants a relationship with us, Jesus died to enable that relationship, Jesus knocks at our door, and all we have to do is answer.

What Does this Relationship Look Like

In a typical romantic relationship, each partner wants a few basic things.  They want time with each other.  They want to be a priority with their partner.  They want to communicate with each other.  They want to learn about each other. They want to share things in common, like values, and yes, even possessions.  They want to share a unique, intimate connection.  God is no different.

God wants your time.  He wants you to spend time with Him – in prayer, in silence, talking, and listening.  He wants you to make Him your priority, such that you “…fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).  And, of course, He makes you His priority, as “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  God wants you to communicate with Him, most often in prayer.  Prayer doesn’t need to be long, cryptic conversations made up of unnatural words.  Rather, it can be as simple as having a conversation with your Heavenly Father.  Tell Him how much you love Him, share what’s on your mind, be thankful for that which you have, and ask for what you need or want.  Perhaps the most overlooked part of prayer is listening.  Don’t expect audible voices to boom from above, but rather feel how God stirs in your heart.  He wants you to learn more about His heart – spending time in the Bible reading about Him and His love of humanity, including you!  And share things.  God has already given you beautiful gifts – love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.  If you’re not familiar, mercy is not giving you what you deserve, which based on your sin (and mine), is eternity in hell.  Thankfully, God’s mercy spares us of that torture.  Grace is giving us what we don’t deserve. As sinners, we don’t deserve His love, peace, forgiveness, and eternal life.  These are beautiful gifts He freely gives us – we simply need to accept them.  In return, God wants our gifts too – our time, our talent, our treasure, our heart, and our love.  God wants that intimate, personal, and deep connection with you.

How Do I Get Into this Relationship?

Perhaps you remember the kid in high school who was always afraid to ask out the pretty girl, for fear of rejection?  Or maybe you remember the kid who had the courage to ask out any girl, and sometimes she would even say yes?  A relationship with God, however, requires no fear and no courage. There is zero risk of rejection!

God has been pursuing you your entire life.  God has been anxiously awaiting this moment.  God has wanted this relationship with you!  All you have to do is ask.  Maybe try a simple prayer like this, “God, I know I’ve messed things up.  I know I haven’t always followed your ways.  I often feel like I’m so far away from you that you’d never want a relationship with me.  But I thank you for knocking at my door and being willing to meet me where I am, in all my messiness and chaos.  I want Jesus to be the Lord of my life, as best I know how.  I want to spend time with you, learn more about your heart, make you a priority, and share an intimate connection.  

Once you pray that prayer, I encourage you to continue praying regularly.  Spend some time reading the Bible.  There are great reading plans on Bible apps like YouVersion that can help you get started.  And find a good, Bible-based church nearby to help with your spiritual growth.  Give it a shot and

see how fun and deep this relationship can become.

Photo Credit: Joel Muniz