How to Build Your Relationship With God

Talk—listen. Listen—talk. If you’re an actor in Hollywood, you’d recognize this as one of the keys to great acting. It’s a simple reminder of the interaction that thrills audiences with star-quality performances on stage or on screen. More than reciting their lines, the best actors enter into a conversation.

“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 17:6 NIV

Our Christian walk is not a stage play. However, the concept of a conversation is the same: talk—listen. Listen—talk. God wants to talk with you and me! He longs to interact with us, to be welcomed into our daily lives with an exchange of thoughts, dreams, hopes and prayers.

More than any other religion in the world, Christianity is built on relationship—the outstanding relationship of the Creator God with the created one. Loving God with beloved one… that’s you!

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day… the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Genesis 3:8-9

From the garden of Eden when God sought Adam out in the cool of the day—to this very moment in time while you sit on the freeway or run your kids to their soccer game or fold the laundry—God wants to interact with His people. He’s calling us to come close, to lean in. He wants a relationship with you, not simply one-sided prayers.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you…” James 4:8

Imagine it! God wants to talk with you. He yearns for communion with you, a conversation that begins when you open your eyes in the morning until you close your eyes at night! He’s even speaking while you sleep, preparing you for the day to come.

What secrets is God whispering to you? What insight is He speaking into your soul to manage your relationship with your teenage daughter or navigate that difficult situation at work? What guidance is He trying to impart to you?

Are you listening? Did you know that He is speaking?

“‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21 NIV

The Bible is filled with conversations between God and His people. Moses, Samuel, Mary Peter, the list goes on and on! The wonderful news is that He’s still speaking today!

You may hear Him as an audible voice or a whisper. Other times, you might hear Him speak through the words of a friend or a pastor or perhaps a scripture that leaps off the page while you’re reading your Bible.

The prophet Elijah experienced a powerful encounter with God on the top of a mountain. First, a mighty wind blew, then an earthquake shook the mountain, then a fire blazed, and then he heard it—the soft, gentle whisper of God.

“And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” 1 Kings 19: 12-13

Fortunately, you don’t have to climb to the top of a mountain to hear God. My dialogue with God begins before I crawl out of bed as I thank Him for the new day. It continues as I make a cup of tea and sit with my Bible and notebook before I start my workday. As I read, I pray, and I listen, trusting that God will speak to me.

He will speak to you, too. He cares about every detail of your life, the big things as well as the small. Talk to Him. Share your dreams and desires, your hurts and your pains. And then pause to listen. Your loving God is speaking!

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:10