Relationship over Religion

This Bible Study I’ve been working through “Discerning the Voice of God” by Priscilla Shirer has been so eye opening for me. It’s been causing me to recalibrate my compass and adjust my focal point in a dramatic way. I’m still trying to fully grasp and apply what I’m learning, so forgive me ahead of time as I fumble to explain something that I feel can be life-giving to those trapped in a religious prison. Before I start, there’s something very important to point out, there is a vast difference between religion and relationship and God calls us to a relationship. Christ died to set us free from religion, so we can be in a true relationship with God the Father. Throughout this study I’ve been realizing how much my desire to learn what God’s Will is for me has trumped my desire to “Know God more”....to spend more time getting to know who He is and what’s most important to Him. When I know Him and His Word better, I begin to learn what His true hearts desires are, which in turn begins to morph into my true hearts desires. Discovering His Will for your life is just a by-product of this. Priscilla expresses this so well by saying “He wants to reveal truth about Himself to you because this knowledge will lay the firm path toward fulfilling His purpose for your life.” When I truly learn about His core character, I will begin to trust that He really is a good God, who doesn’t want anyone to be separated from Him, here or in eternity. He wants a loving relationship with me and He wants me to build loving relationships with others. That’s top priority to Him. You see, faith isn’t simply “believing”. For even Satan believed yet He doesn’t have faith. What’s the defining difference? Faith is trusting God with your life. It’s trusting He is good, all the time and He has our best interest at heart. I must fully trust Him and His character and power enough to surrender my life, my future and my eternity into His hands. So, is it time for you to refocus and recalibrate as well? What is your purpose for going to church and reading His Bible? To know what God wants you to do or where He wants you to go or to know God more intimately so you can fulfill His purposes not your own? As we draw closer to Him and learn what is important to Him, He will change our desires to align with His pleasing and perfect will. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2