Perhaps you know God as Creator, understand the need of a Savior for forgiveness of sin, see the value of prayer, appreciate the blessing of your church family, and believe the teachings of the Bible. But you keep your distance when you hear people speak one way or another of having a “personal relationship with Jesus.” You just aren’t sure exactly what that means or if you even want to know. It might even sound too girly, cheesy, or mystical for your tastes. But there are legitimate, Biblical, worthwhile truths about Christianity that are found in relationship with the Divine.

The Gain Of Making It Personal

You’ll become even more of yourself. Don’t believe that growing closer to God will make you into someone you don’t want to become. For example, even if you’re the most task-oriented, introverted, facts-based person on the planet, having an active relationship with your Maker will not make these strengths disappear. Rather, they will be magnified for His work.

Everything you love about your earthly relationships are made even better in a relationship with Him. He can’t fall short and let you down. And a relationship with Him steadies you to make all other relationships healthier and more enjoyable.

Through Him, you’ll get to know God for who He is and not for who you want Him to be. And that’s a good thing because humans wouldn’t be human if we could devise a divine God.

Pursuing a personal relationship with Jesus prevents you from rejecting Him. It’s the very nature of God to come close and live within His followers (Jn. 14:18). If you push the idea away, you might push Him away.

You’ll have more eternal perspective. The less this world looks like heaven, the more distant heaven might feel without His living presence encouraging you within.

Some Ideas For Developing A Personal Relationship With Him

Have a right mindset about it. The key word is “personal” – don’t assume you won’t like having a personal relationship with God or that yours has to look like someone else’s. He’ll reach you according to how He made you. Expect more personal satisfaction, strength, and peace than you’ve been experiencing.

Don’t believe modern day lies about the Bible. Jesus clearly prayed that the world would know that His Father loves His people as much as He loves Jesus (Jn. 17:23). Jesus knew the holy love of His Father because of the quality time they shared. The same is available for you.

Ask yourself what you would do if you wanted to grow closer to someone in your life (such as spending time with them and getting to know them), and then do those same things with Jesus. For example, if enjoy going to pottery painting shops with a friend, try something artistic while listening to your audio bible. Or if you enjoy hiking with friends, try a prayer hike.

Tell this Spirit of God you’re ready for Him to help you have this kind of relationship with Him.

Spend time with someone you know who seems to have encountered Jesus in a personal way, ask them to share about their experiences, and try out some of their habits.

Read the Apostle Paul’s writings, specifically looking for his passionate expression about Christ. Paul’s descriptions are highly-relational, and he felt fully satisfied by his serving commitment to Christ. Would any human really be able to rejoice and praise His heavenly Father from prison, in times of great suffering, if he didn’t feel utterly safe and secure in a personal relationship? (Acts 16:25; 2 Cor. 6:10b, 12:10)

When you read your Bible, pray, go to church, listen to Christian radio, etc., do so with a new awareness and purpose of encouraging your spirit to connect with His Spirit, and plan to be surprised at what it brings out in you.

Consider setting goals for what it would look for you to prioritize this most important relationship you can ever have.

Testimonials From Others Who Enjoy A Personal Relationship With Christ

“After spending some concentrated time with Him, I went from years of not understanding God – to gaining a greater understanding of His ways and kingdom.”

“Once I started asking Him for wisdom, I started making better decisions.”

“Knowing Jesus as a personal Friend to me is the best solution to loneliness I’ve ever found.”

“I get a cleansing feeling when I confess my sins to Him that helps me manage my temptations and grow closer to Him.”

“Reading the Bible to see what He will say to me personally will often make me think straight and have a better mood.”

“I recognize instructions as coming from Him and I actually want to obey.”

“Someone suggested I ask Him what to pray and I’ve been amazed at the ideas that come to my mind. I think He’s teaching me to pray the way He’s going to answer.”

“I definitely rely on my relationship with Him to help me in my fight against anxiety and depression. When my mind and heart only want to think and feel negatively, I’ll ask Him to take over and He takes me to a better place.”

“Engaging with God as a living Being definitely helps me keep my faith from getting stale.”

Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit. (John 15:5)