Relationships that work

Can you honestly say that you’re close to someone you hardly ever speak to? You might like that person, or even feel a special regard for her, but you are close to people with whom you spend time. This is because a close relationship requires communication. Hollow relationships, those based on form rather than knowledge, don’t endure.

Couples need time alone to talk, and so do children and best friends. People with whom we have close relationships need time to talk to us. Sometimes the conversation may not seem to have much significance, but it is so important to keep in touch, to keep that relationship going. The same is true of our relationship with God.

Many Christians boast about their belief in God and yet don’t have a relationship with Him. They are busy Christians, filling their days with everything but God. And then they come to church a few hours a week, and for that they call themselves Christian.

Can you have a relationship with your husband if you only speak with each other once or twice a week? I don’t think so. Soon enough you will find your relationship clouded with misunderstanding and arguments, and you will drift apart. Similarly, if your relationship with God is not based on contact and communication, you will find yourself spiritually alone and out of touch.

Just as with any other relationship, you need to communicate with God in order to have a close and strong relationship with Him. He is not looking to see whether or not you call yourself a Christian, because that doesn’t make you a Christian at all! You are only a true Christian when you know God personally, and your relationship with Him is real.

A woman of prayer is of great value to God because He knows that she takes the time to speak to Him, even though she may be busy with many other things in her life.

If you are a parent, you know that if your child stops interacting with you, it’s a bad sign. The same is true of God. You may even hold an important title in the church, but if you don’t talk to God and nurture your relationship with Him as often as you do the other things in your life, your relationship with Him is poor and needy.

In trying to illustrate this, the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practise lawlessness!‘”

Some people read this verse and don’t realise how strong it is. Our Lord is actually saying that many Christians will be going to hell! And if those who served Him are mentioned here, imagine those who didn’t serve Him at all! Let us be wise and stop faking the most important relationship in our lives. Set aside time to talk to God every day. You will soon notice how strong and spiritually fulfilled you are, because of your growing closeness to Him.

In faith,
Mrs Cristiane Cardoso