Habakkuk 3: 2
O Lord, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now [renew] in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when you are angry.
Do you miss God? Having an Almighty Friend to talk to, trust, and rely upon? Do you find yourself asking “What happened to my relationship with God? Where did it go?” Or maybe it’s just not the same anymore. Maybe your relationship with God has become formal, or just about “asking for” and “thanking because”, but the aspect of friendship has become stale. Then maybe it’s time for renewal.
Renewal means “making something new again”. Why do we need constant renewal as we go along our Christian journey? A house needs constant upkeep, organization, and cleaning, and if we never clean our home, it will soon no longer be a pleasant place to live. The same with your car, which periodically requires a trip to the mechanic to be serviced.
Our spiritual life also needs maintenance and repairs. If we neglect our relationship with God, soon our naturally sinful human nature begins taking ground until we are dominated by it, becoming an uninhabitable temple for the Holy Spirit.
The text above from Habakkuk reminds us of the importance of taking heed and renewing this communion “in our times”, that is, in the course of our life, when maintenance is necessary to finish strong.
Include God in Your List
This is a good place to begin. If you are determined to renew your friendship with God, write down your list of goals and priorities. It’s best if this is a written list. Put “fellowship with God” first and outline the steps that can help you achieve it (some included below). Put your list in a place that’s easily visible so it will always be front of mind.
Meditate
The second step is meditation. Listen, your daily Bible reading to finish the Bible in a year is very important. But you won’t learn much by reading Biblical passages without proper reflection, especially by quick reading. Place a Bible and a biblical commentary beside your bed. As you read a passage, try to delve into what Jesus really wants to say to you through those words.
Pray
Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, “Ye shall receive.”
Acts of the Apostles, 564
Forgo that memorized, and by now automatic, prayer. Speak to God, tell Him what really came between you and what is driving you away. Ask for help to once again desire to do the things you once did out of love. Pray with sincerity and the answer will be sure.
Trust
Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
Trust that God will guide you through this phase of your life. Place everything in His hands. Keep your heart at peace, knowing that He cannot abandon you. Consider each Bible promise as being written just for you and keep a list of the ones that apply the most to your life at this moment. Update it often.
Depart from Evil
Evil is what tries to separate you from God. Analyze your habits and compare them with the ones you had when you decided to follow God. Doing this may shed light on what has come between you and God. Have you discovered what it was? Right now, yes, this instant, purpose in your heart to set aside the things that you know aren’t contributing to your spiritual health. When you remove these obstacles that were taking your time and attention from communing with God, your relationship with Him will be freer to flourish.
Don’t allow Satan to enter your heart to destroy your faith. Strengthen the areas of conflict in your life and seek to structure your spiritual life in Christ.
May God help us always.
5 thoughts on “Renewing Your Relationship with God in 5 Steps”
My obsticle that has taken over my life and destroyed my whole relationship with God. I can not pray anymore. I just dont know how. I have no more words. My best friend destroyed my married life . I dont want to go in it in detail. I feel broken, useless and just can not pray. I feel faar from God.
Hi Daphne, thank you for sharing your heart. I am sorry for the experience and that you feel far from God right now. I believe every Christian goes through similar moments. Now we can choose how we proceed—with faith in God’s mercies?
May I suggest this article (especially the last paragraph or two!): http://www.thegirlwrites.com/a-relationship-with-god-where-to-begin/
God can restore all things and mend every heart. Don’t give up on Him. He surely hasn’t given up on you.
I hope to hear from you again in the future in a new season of life! Love, Larissa
Dear Daphne, I’m so sorry to hear about the situation in your life. I’m sorry to hear about you feeling broken and unable to pray to our God. I want to share this with you in 2020 my husband and I was going through a foreclosure, then my father died who I was extremely close with and then my only brother who was also like my son was murdered literally 10 weeks after my father passed of a sudden heart attack. Daphne I felt like my world ended and my entire life was destroyed and made absolutely no sense. At that time, I couldn’t pray to God, I couldn’t say anything to God. I was just too broken, hurt, downtrodden, depressed, angry just all of the above except happy! Do you know what I did when I had a breakdown and an anxiety attack…I picked up my Bible and just started reading whatever page. I even wondered would I ever smile again; would I ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wondered would I ever experience pure joy again. May I share this with you slowly and I do mean slowly God truly restored my broken heart and I finally was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I kept reading my Bible and eventually with time of course I was able to start praying again. By the way God saved our home. I can never see my father or brother again, but I just now thank God almighty for allowing me to have such an amazing father and brother be apart of my life. Daphne God truly has the ability to restore you, to cause you to smile again and to mend your broken heart back together again. He’s the God of restoration and I’m telling you he’s able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think of or ever imagine. Daphne please pick up your Bible and just start reading the Word of God because he’ll heal you by his Word and eventually with timing, you’ll feel God’s supernatural strength and you’ll begin praying again. It may feel like God has forgotten about you but I promise he hasn’t.
Dear Daphne, I’m so sorry to hear about the situation in your life. I’m sorry to hear about you feeling broken and unable to pray to our God. I want to share this with you in 2020 my husband and I was going through a foreclosure, then my father died who I was extremely close with and then my only brother who was also like my son was murdered literally 10 weeks after my father passed of a sudden heart attack. Daphne I felt like my world was ending and my entire life was destroyed and made absolutely no sense. At that time, I couldn’t pray to God, I couldn’t say anything to God. I was just too broken, hurt, downtrodden, depressed, angry just all of the above except happy! Do you know what I did when I had a breakdown and an anxiety attack…I picked up my Bible and just started reading whatever page. I even wondered will I ever smile again; would I ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wondered will I ever experience pure joy again. May I share this with you slowly and I do mean slowly God truly restored my broken heart and I finally was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I kept reading my Bible and eventually with time of course I was able to start praying again. By the way God saved our home. I can never see my father or brother again, but I just now thank God almighty for allowing me to have such an amazing father and brother be apart of my life. Daphne God truly has the ability to restore you, to cause you to smile again and to mend your broken heart back together again. He’s the God of restoration and I’m telling you he’s able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think of or ever imagine. Daphne please pick up your Bible and just start reading the Word of God because he’ll heal you by his Word and eventually with timing, you’ll feel God’s supernatural strength and you’ll begin praying again. It may feel like God has forgotten about you but I promise he hasn’t.
This was a great article. God blessings upon you.