Life Plan Devotion #36 [A Closer Walk]

Recently, someone asked me how she could get closer to God. It's really very simple, because it's all about relationship. God is a relational being, and so are we. There are, basically, 5 steps to an intimate relationship with the Lord.
Step 1: You must be born again. If you have experienced frustration spiritually, found it difficult to follow a spiritual pathway, find that you're uncomfortable when you go to church, read your Bible but you don't seem to get anything out of it, etc., you may not be truly born again. If you grew up in a Christian home and you've always gone to church, you may be assuming your salvation. You see, God has no grandchildren...only children. Salvation is personal, not hereditary. If you cannot pinpoint a moment when you said "yes" to Jesus, then it's time that you have that encounter. (Romans 10:13)
Step 2: You must talk to Him. Just as in any relationship, communication is key to an intimate relationship with the Lord. He longs to hear from you. Talk to Him in prayer. Talk to Him with your thoughts. Talk to Him out loud, throughout your day. (Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:17)
Step 3: You must listen to Him. Good relationship building revolves around talking and listening. When you talk to Him, don't forget to listen. When you read the Bible (and you should, daily), listen for His voice, His teaching, His prompting...just for you. It is His love letter to you. (Proverbs 8:32-34; I Thessalonians 2:13)
Step 4: You must seek to follow Him. Knowing the Lord should make a difference in how you live. There should be a change in the way you think, speak, and live. It many not be instantaneous, but there should be noticeable, ongoing changes. (John 10:27; I John 2:6)
Step 5: You should keep a daily, updated heart account. At the end of every day, take some time to be with Him, and ask Him to show you if you said or did anything that day that "missed the mark." He will lovingly show you, and you should then ask for forgiveness, knowing that it is assured. (I John 1:9)
It isn't difficult to know, follow, and be intimate with the Lord, but it does take decision, desire, and commitment. After that, it's as easy as breathing in and out.

Colossians 2:6-7 [Amplified]
"As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confident and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving."

What this has to do with weight loss: There is no greater accountability partner and encourager on the weight-loss journey than the Lord. He is as close as the mention of His Name, and when you partner with Him, you will be successful in the desire of your heart (releasing and maintaining weight loss). Let Him be your helpmeet.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I desire an intimate relationship with You. To have that, I must truly have had a personal encounter with and accepted Your Son as Savior. Once I've settled that question, I know that spending time with You in prayer and the Word will be as effortless as breathing. More than anything, I want to say, 'You are the air I breathe.' May we get to the point, You and I, that others cannot tell where I end and You begin. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, walking side by side with Jesus.

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