Relationship with the King

Lately I have been speaking with people on "keeping it simple" with God.  We as humans, tend to over-complicate things in our walk with God.  

I too was very guilty of this.  Trying to go to prayer, being rigid on worshiping for this amount of time, praying for that amount of time, praying this way and not that.  I would type out my prayer like a meeting agenda.  My need for structure on top of my being an overly organized planner had everything lined out and timed so that I made sure that God got His time with me before I was off and running in my overly busy lifestyle.

I struggled in prayer and worshiped as I thought I had to have the perfect "God" formula.  I would go to the godly powerhouses in my life and would watch them in their prayer and worship trying to imitate their time with God.  If it worked for them, it must work for me.  (Talk about a religious mindset, right?!?)

Nothing worked for me.  I thought there was something wrong with me.  I wasn't hearing from this God that the Bible said wanted a relationship with me.  I had my prayer recipe and tried following it to the letter.  I was being told that I needed to pray in tongues for "x" amount of time and then you need to pray for this amount of time.  You need to do this, you need to do that.

Friend, I tell you I have tried it all!  I was starving for this relationship with God that I was willing to try anything.  I wanted to be His friend like Abraham, I wanted to spend forty days straight with Him like Moses, and I definitely wanted to be like David who was a man after God's own heart!  If these Bible heroes could have a relationship with God before Jesus then I should have a better one after Jesus!

I can tell you the very first time I heard His voice, and that I knew that it was Him.  It was so awesome that I laughed and cried the whole night as we had this conversation.  I didn't sleep a wink that night and had so much energy the next morning that I wanted more!  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recreate it.  

Long story somewhat short, this has been a five year process.  Now when I don't hear from Him, I panic and freak out a bit.  

You want to formula to having a relationship with God...start treating Him the way you want Him to treat you.

You want Him to love on you, love on Him.  You want Him to talk to you, start talking to Him.  Just as you would a friend or family member that is in the room because He is.  Tell Him how great He is.  Tell Him how much you appreciate everything He does as soon as you recognize it.  As you are driving to work, turn off the car radio and talk to God just as you would talk to anyone who was in the passenger seat.  

Don't give Him part of your day, give it all to Him.  Ask Him what to wear and what He thinks that you look good in.  Ask what He thinks about what ever you are thinking about.  (Wives you will get a better response from Him than you will your husbands as He cares about "everything" that you care about!)   When we include Him in what we think is "un-important" mundane items, it shows Him how "important" He is to us.

Don't over-complicate this relationship just because He is God.  Don't over-think it because He is the Sovereign King.   Don't try to analyze Him or put Him in a box.  Let God be God, He is good at it.  

He wants a relationship with you more than you want one with Him.  Let that resonate in your spirit.  Our perfect God that created the universe wants us to love Him more than anything.  You don't have to earn it.  You don't have to do anything but talk to Him.  Leave the "Christian-ese" at the door as He doesn't speak it.  He speaks love as that is what He is, LOVE.  

You want to touch His heart?  Ask yourself how do small children touch their parents hearts like no other?  They want their parents to see everything they do.  They ask their parents a million questions.  They want their parents to take part in their playing.  They want their parents to hear them sing and watch them dance.  They want to be picked up and held by their parents so that they can love on them.  They want to be as close to their parents as possible.  Children love with no agenda.

Love on God for no reason except for the fact that you love Him.  Lift your hands in praise as You want Him to pick you up to be closer to Him.  Dance with Him.  Tell Him how good or bad your day was.  Tell Him what irritated you and what pleased you.  Tell Him how much you are grateful for Him and what He has done for you...that alone will have the conversation lasting a good long time.  

Remember when we were in school and our teachers would tell us to KISS our problems..."Keep it Simple Sweetie".  Same thing with God, keep it simple.  Just talk.  No formula, no formality.  Just open your mouth and let the words out.  

He is not like the kings and presidents of this world.  God is approachable, you don't need an appointment.  The veil has been torn, His door is always open.  He is looking forward to you coming to see Him.  

The more you include Him the more you are going to hear from Him.  It is that simple. 

The relationship that you have always wanted with God is waiting for you.  

Until Next Time, God Bless!