Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
I don’t want to assume everyone receiving this email is a Christian. The first step to a deeper relationship with God is accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you would like to receive salvation, click here.
Going deeper in God is an extensive topic, which means today’s email may be a bit longer, but it’s worth the read. Going deeper in God means you are dissatisfied with your current relationship with Him and are hungry for more. Here’s how to receive more: through prayer, studying scripture, and getting to know God.
Deeper in Prayer
“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
When you pray, do you go straight into your wish list and requests? Understand that God is not a genie. He is God who longs for quality time with us. We shouldn’t only pray when we need something from God. But pray because you want to build your relationship with Him. Remember, prayer is a two way street. After you pray, allow time for God to respond. Sometimes, you may not have anything to say, and that’s okay too. Let God speak to you just as you speak to Him. When you pray,
start with thankfulness and praises to our God
ask God for forgiveness of your sins
speak in tongues if you have the gift of tongues
present your needs to Him
intercede for others
wait and listen for His response
Deeper in Scripture
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night…” Joshua 1:8
Going deeper in scripture means studying the Bible. By definition, study means to meditate (to repeat), investigate and analyze. Hard truth: reading a scripture a day on your Bible app does not count as studying. It’s good to read those to start your day, but if you want to go deeper, you’ll have to meditate, investigate, and analyze the scriptures you read and learn how to apply them to your life.
find a translation that helps you to understand the Bible more clearly
find a Study Bible to fill in the gaps and ask God questions when you need clarity
use a journal to break down scriptures when you study
use Google to find scriptures if you don’t know where to look in the Bible
Ex: “scriptures about fasting,” “scriptures about marriage”
Deeper in Relationship
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” James 4:8
If you have dated before, you know what it’s like to get to know one another. You’re asking 21 questions and going out every weekend to learn more about this person. Well, God wants that same treatment of quality time. Knowing who God is beyond what we already know takes effort and time, just like any other relationship. A relationship with God goes past commandments and prayer requests. God wants us to have a personal connection with Him so that any decision we make, from choosing what clothes to wear to moving to a different state, He’s involved in some way (Jeremiah 29:11).
get to know God as a friend and let Him become your confidant
learn about who God is and how that applies to your life
pray and ask God to reveal Himself more to you every day
Day 4 Challenge
Build your stamina in prayer by praying for 15 minutes or more. If you have the gift of tongues, pray in your heavenly language for 5 minutes or more. Try to find time to do this every day. If you pray consistently already, try to fast for a few days every month to really hear from God.
Find one scripture or chapter to study. Meditate, memorize, analyze, and investigate it. Ask God questions and listen for His voice as you read. Pace yourself and try to find time to do this every week.
Make a date with God. Choose a day every week to set aside time for just you and Him. In this instance, Sunday services and Bible study services would not count. Spend time with Him to read, study, pray, and listen.
We pray this is helpful and pushes you in the right direction.
If you need a refresher, click below to watch Let’s Go by Pastor TJ McBride!
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