Years ago, when I was just learning how to develop a personal relationship with God, I had a lot of problems. I was a mess because of the abuse I had experienced growing up. As a result, I was insecure, unstable, unhappy most of the time, and I got angry whenever things didn’t go my way.
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Years ago, when I was just learning how to develop a personal relationship with God, I had a lot of problems. I was a mess because of the abuse I had experienced growing up. As a result, I was insecure, unstable, unhappy most of the time, and I got angry whenever things didn’t go my way. It was a miserable way to live.
I eventually reached a point where I was willing to do whatever I had to do to have peace and to really enjoy my life. So I got serious about my relationship with God and started studying His Word and spending time with Him in prayer.
As I did this, I discovered that God wanted me to have abundant life and to live with His righteousness, peace and joy. But getting there was a battle!
John 10:10 says Jesus “came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (AMP). And Romans 14:17 says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
We can experience abundant life and have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit when we develop an intimate, personal relationship with God. And two main keys to having intimacy with God are truth and time.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “The truth will set you free!” This is not just a wise proverb someone came up with; it’s actually taken from Scripture. Jesus says in John 8:31-32 that “if you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
If we’re going to be set free from sin – wrong mindsets, attitudes and behavior that are not like Christ – then we must face the truth about ourselves and choose to believe what God says in His Word more than what we think or feel or what others say. We need to be completely truthful with God and let Him into every part of our lives.