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Developing a Relationship with God

Writer's picture: Tiffani G.Tiffani G.

silhouette of friends talking

If only I had known You like this before Lord. If only I had tasted and seen who You were in my earlier years. I find myself thinking this often and even mentioning it to the Lord. I’m not ashamed of my testimony, but I do think about what life would have been like if I had known that I could know the Lord in the ways that I know Him now.


I’m sure there would’ve been a lot less tears, a lot less anxiety, and a lot less effort in trying to please others. I would be more secure in Him and in me. But I still rejoice because now I can walk in the freedom that He has promised to all of us who love Him.


Walking in relationship with God as a friend is a step further than living a typical Christian life. In the same ways that you think about a friend, conversate with them, and consider them, you do the same with the Lord. He becomes your plus one and takes a seat at every table that you’re invited to sit at or that you’ve created. He doesn’t just exist as the God whom in your mind you believe He is there and present in what you do. He becomes the person who you desire to be wherever you are and that you converse with day to day out about the good and the bad. He doesn’t stay as the one whom you go to when you need something. But he becomes the ONE whom you know knows what you need before you ask, so you invite Him into every moment so that He can experience your needs with you.


Here are ways that you can develop a relationship with God as a friend:


Search the Scriptures and learn about His character

This is the first thing that my mentor taught me to do when seeking to develop a relationship with the Lord. She said to read over the Word beginning in the Old Testament and find the stories/Scriptures that speak to the Lord’s character. How can you know someone, if you don’t know how they behave or what they like/dislike. Knowing this about God will solidify your relationship with Him because even before He responds to you, you’ll begin to know what His response may be based on His character. This will also help you when the enemy is telling you lies or speaking to you harshly- you’ll be able to discern which voice is the Father’s vs. the accuser.


Invite Him in

No one has someone that they consider to be a friend, whom they never invite anywhere or make an effort to spend time together. Yes, the Lord is with you everywhere. He sees all and He searches your heart in every situation. However, He still wants to be included and made an important part of our lives. Although you may know that you can come to a dinner party, it is much more special to actually be invited. It shows that the person took the time and considered you. They made an effort to verbally say “you are welcome here”. This is special to the Lord. He wants to be included in everything you do. This opens the door for communication between you and God.


Focus on Him

We get so busy and so distracted throughout our day that by the end many of us are too tired to even spend time with the Lord. I know this all too well as this has been a recent struggle for me. However, the Lord reminded me that if I truly want to grow with Him, I must focus on Him. It’s like a drawing closer. The more you behold something and go towards it, the more that things becomes easier to achieve or closer in reach. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you.


This goes hand in hand with inviting Him in.


When you’re focusing on Him, talk to Him about how the task that you’re doing is going, sing songs of praise to Him while you fold laundry, meditate on His words and on His character while you’re making dinner. No matter what you do, keep Him on your mind as much as possible. A friend that you never spend time with is not a friend, that is an acquaintance. Someone you see/visit here and there when your paths cross. The goal is to walk the path with the Lord beside you, not just have Him in the vicinity of you.


If you make it your goal to do these things, the Lord will be close to you and you will start to develop a beautiful relationship with God as your friend.



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