The Truth About Relationships
Friday, January 19, 2007
Recently my daughter and I were talking. I asked her how she would feel if I were to go hang out with her friends and we just talked about all the things we knew about her. I said, "what if I never called you and you wrote me letters and I never read them?" "What if I never stopped by to see you or have lunch with you, how would you feel?" "What if I just hung out with people who talked about you once in awhile and they told me all about your life and how you loved me, but I didn't even bother to take the time to go to your house?" She then replied, "I wouldn't like it, I would feel like you were ignoring me or maybe you didn't love me." I said, "well God revealed to me recently if I am not reading His letters and spending time in His word that I am doing just that."
I am just hanging out with others who know Him or know facts about Him and listening to sermons, but I am ignoring Him. He doesn't even have a chance to speak to me one on one, cause I am too busy doing what I think is right, but it is wrong, not wrong to attend church or hang out with other Christians, but wrong in the sense that I am not spending personal time with Him, allowing Him to speak to me individually.
I once heard a preacher say when we feed off of only what God has given to others it could be stagnant water. That we have to go get a drink of fresh water from the well. We have to allow HIM to give us a drink of the water of life, instead of being lazy and letting everyone else spend the time with Him and then listen to what they have to say instead of talking to him and allowing him to talk to us personally.
The truth of the matter is...I make time for what is important to me. I say it is important, but is it really? How important is it to me to hear from Him? How important is it to me to stop and take time to read His letters? Not only that, He wrote the letters to help me find the truth, to show me a better way, to communicate His love to me. When I stop to read the Word, I am amazed at how He does talk to me through His Word and I feel so refreshed and usually when I take that time, I can't stop reading.
So what is a relationship anyway? Can I have a relationship with someone if I never call them, never read their letters, never spend time with them? I don't think so. I have been so busy with the cares of this life that I haven't always taken the time to stop and do what is most important. Recently I have been spending alot of time in His Word and I hear His voice so clearly. I am enjoying this time so much, I can't wait to get alone and spend some quiet time just so I can hear His voice.
I am just hanging out with others who know Him or know facts about Him and listening to sermons, but I am ignoring Him. He doesn't even have a chance to speak to me one on one, cause I am too busy doing what I think is right, but it is wrong, not wrong to attend church or hang out with other Christians, but wrong in the sense that I am not spending personal time with Him, allowing Him to speak to me individually.
I once heard a preacher say when we feed off of only what God has given to others it could be stagnant water. That we have to go get a drink of fresh water from the well. We have to allow HIM to give us a drink of the water of life, instead of being lazy and letting everyone else spend the time with Him and then listen to what they have to say instead of talking to him and allowing him to talk to us personally.
The truth of the matter is...I make time for what is important to me. I say it is important, but is it really? How important is it to me to hear from Him? How important is it to me to stop and take time to read His letters? Not only that, He wrote the letters to help me find the truth, to show me a better way, to communicate His love to me. When I stop to read the Word, I am amazed at how He does talk to me through His Word and I feel so refreshed and usually when I take that time, I can't stop reading.
So what is a relationship anyway? Can I have a relationship with someone if I never call them, never read their letters, never spend time with them? I don't think so. I have been so busy with the cares of this life that I haven't always taken the time to stop and do what is most important. Recently I have been spending alot of time in His Word and I hear His voice so clearly. I am enjoying this time so much, I can't wait to get alone and spend some quiet time just so I can hear His voice.
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 3:30 AM
14 Comments:
I LOVE His voice! Great post. Interesting perspective that really makes in impact!
What a great way to put such a simple truth!
I've felt exactly the same thing on my heart lately. I've been reading the Bible before I leave for work in the morning, and I don't want to put it down when it's time to leave.
You are so right when you say we feed off the relationships others have with the Lord....wonderful post!
Great post. The Lord has been speaking to me also through his Word. He is stiring in me to read more and more. Like pat I have a hard time putting it down when I have to go.
I found your site through "Joe's Jottings". I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and I will be back.
yup, hear you loud and clear. how can we have a relationship without experiences with Him? tonite, He showed me He loved me once again. can't get enough of it.
that is so true....
i heard it said that what you describe is like looking at the travel brochure without going on tne trip.
and He promises that if we seek Him, he will reward us, and he will draw near to us...
Beautiful post! I know that with me, it's usually when I'm down and out that I reach for Him (how pathetic is that?). When things get better, I become wrapped up in the day-to-day stuff and I don't find time for the source, "the well," that keeps me going. It's not a pretty cycle and one I need to break.
It's so true, relationships require time and attention. I think my husband's coming around in that department. Now, if God can take my relationship and turn it around for His glory, I can't ignore Him. I need Him.
It's funny, in life when we don't nurture our relationships, they fall apart. With Christ, He will not turn you away. The decision is always ours, whether we want to have a relationship with Him or not, but HE can't leave US and He always welcomes us back. How awesome is that?? It's the greatest demonstration of love.
Another excellent post Dana....love coming here.
Very good post! Very convicting. This is the kind of thinking that, as a pastor, I long to see in my Church members.
You nailed that one! We do need to read his letters and listen to that still small voice when he speaks to us. Prayer can do wonders and it opens up the communications lines with our Father in Heaven. The more we do to stay in touch the better off we will be. I love this post and I'm going to have my husband read it. Thanks.
This post was so beautiful. Thank you. Sure there is joy and peace and all the strength we need, in His presence.
God Bless.
What a great post. Thank you.
Amen! What a beautiful way to put this...without care and attention any relationship dies...I desperately need time with Him...just me, myself and I.
i had to read this twice - to get HALF of its import. Thank you for thinking so clearly and writing it down for us.
Hi, Just stumbled across your blog and really enjoyed reading this post. Really makes our relationship with God come to life and be real.
Thanks for sharing! I needed to remember that! Now, where is the post on birth orders? That's the one I was looking for...:)
JOY
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