Section 2: How do I grow up in my relationship with Jesus?
HOW DO I GROW UP IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
“Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith...”(Colossians 2:6-7)
After making a decision to follow Jesus it is only natural we want to have a rich and vibrant experience of God in our lives. We want confirmation that He is real. We want to feel Him at work in us. We want to experience the sense of peace and freedom we may have heard others talk about.
It’s normal to desire these things. In some ways, these experiences and feelings validate our relationship with God. We would want the same validation in any other important relationship, be it a close friendship or even a marriage.
Yet the reality of our position as a member of the family of God does not depend on our feelings or how much we are “feeling it” day to day. It depends on our faith. The Biblical promises we have come to understand are the foundation of our faith. This is true when we are really “feeling it” and when we are not. I know I have the certainty of a place in Heaven because I know who Jesus is, the meaning of His life, death and resurrection, and I know I have turned control of my life over to Him. Even though I don’t relay on my feelings, it is alright to desire a strong experience of God’s presence and love. And there are things we can do to cultivate that level of experience as followers of Jesus.
Next we are going to look at four spiritual disciplines that when adopted and made part of our daily life, are guaranteed to increase the way you feel and experience God working in your life. Just like it is important to build a house on a strong and sturdy foundation, so it is with your faith; it must be built on a strong foundation (Matthew 7:24). The following four disciplines are the corners of your faith foundation.
