How can you strengthen your relationship with God?

Answer 1

* The best way to "energize" your faith in God is to '''practice''' it. Trust His wisdom in more and more things. To do this, you'll need to extend your study of God's Word. Get involved in an in-depth Bible Study program. While reading through The Bible in a year is just fine, I've found that I get more out of going through the Bible at my own pace, and thinking about what I read, while making sure I go through it all eventually. * Sometimes I go through a "dry spell" in my faith. Pray and be patient. God's not done with you yet, but you may just be "in park" for a little while. * By first energizing your faith in yourself. Remember the kingdom of heaven is within.

== == * You can get sacraments*, that enrich your spiritual life. If you are only baptised in any christian church that is only beginning of your life as a God's child. You can be confirmed, what gives you assistance of the Holy Spirit. Confession helps you to cope with your sins. God forgives you, and never stops to love you. Moreover - he helps you to stand up from ground and go on. Just go to him and admit that you fell. And the most important - Flesh and Blood of Living God - the Eucharist. As your body needs normal food, your soul needs spiritual one. Jesus Christ himself not only became man for you, not only the last one of all by dying in humiliation of cross, but also stayed in a form in which not only his deity is hidden (as in his human body) but also his humanity. St Thomas wrote a hymn about Eucharist**: "You've hidden your deity on the cross for us, here your humanity also stays hidden" (originally there are rhymes :) ) Of course lecture of Holy Scriptures is a way to know God and what he gives you. And pray patiently. Roman catholic - see my bio page for disclaimer ... in-fly translation - see above

Answer 2

There are many Scriptures that inform us how we can become 'closer' in a relationship with our Creator God. Consider these two:

Deuteronomy 4:29New International Version (NIV)

29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

James 4:8New International Version (NIV)

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The Bible tells the reader how God made mankind to become His children. He is perfect and spirit. Currently, we are physical and imperfect. He has given us an 'instruction manual' called His Word or Bible to guide us. Jesus came to correct the 'letter of the Law' and teach us the spiritual meaning/application of it.

In any relationship, communications is vital. The same with God who desires to hear our daily prayers to Him. The more one prays, the more natural it becomes. Learning how to properly pray is important. We must pray according to His will (1 John 5:14-15) and not our selfish desires. Remember, He is the Creator God of all mankind and not just one person. He has each of our best interest in mind.

Lastly, in summation, God wants us to become like Him:

1 John 2:6New International Version (NIV)

6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Another perspective:

Relationships can be "good" ones or "bad" ones. In either case, "strengthening" them is a relative term.

Throughout the Bible, God has required and demanded of man, His special creation made in His image to become His future Family; that man OBEY Him!

This requirement for a "good" strong relationship with God has never changed.

God commanded it of Adam, Enoch, Noah... right on down through the generations of all the "chosen" people of God named in His Word.

"I will do this because Abraham Listened to Me and OBEYED all My requirements, commands, regulations, and laws." (Gen.26:5 NLT New Living Translation)

And when God came to earth in the flesh [Jesus Christ]... He magnified His requirements of Obedience by revealing the "Spirit" of His laws:

"For we know that THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL..." (Rom.7:14 KJV).

Same verse, New Living Translation[NLT]: "The Law is Good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery [to the master of sin, Satan the Devil, the god of this world], with sin as my master."

So, a stronger relationship with God is obtained through Jesus Christ... the One who has made it possible through FAITH, to be redeemed to God and to "work for a New Master!"

"When you OBEY Me, you remain in My Love, just as I OBEY My Father and remain in His Love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with My Joy. Yes, your Joy will overflow!

"I COMMAND YOU to LOVE EACH OTHER in the same way that I Love you. And here is how to measure it - the Greatest Love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

"You are My friends IF YOU OBEY ME.

"I no longer call you servants [slaves], because a master doesn't confide in his servants. NOW you are MY FRIENDS [a strengthened, growing relationship], since I have told you everything the Father told Me.

"You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last [goodwill and peace among people], so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My Name. I COMMAND YOU TO LOVE EACH OTHER." (John 15:10-17 NLT)

God is calling whom He wills into a relationship with Him, at this present time in His plan. He opens the mind and heart of a person to train, build, edify and strengthen His intimate relationship with each of them. But, "obedience to His voice" and His "Commands" is at the bottom of it, by "believing what He says." Which is something those who aren't being called by Him have trouble with:

"...some of you are trying to kill Me because My Message does not find a place in your hearts." (John 8:37 NLT)

"For you are the children of your father the Devil... So when I tell you the Truth, you just naturally don't believe Me!" (verse 44)

A stronger relationship with God [a good one] depends on ones' willingness to "believe" what His Word says... and then... to ACT upon it.