Your part in a relationship with GodKeepng a relationship with God
Many people think that once they have started a relationship with God, it cannot be lost. Well, there is a lot of truth in that. God will certainly not walk away from a relationship with you. On the other hand, however, there is nothing to stop you walking away from a relationship with God.
I know that this sounds silly because it is the last thing that you would think about. However, when you look at the statistics in this world you soon begin to realize that things do change. Take a look at the marriage statistics for instance:
Government statistics state that 41% of first marriages will end in a divorce based on 1993/4 rates (Social Trends 26).
Now, I know that it takes two to tango, and it would never be you that starts to look around. But believe it or not, in marriages that fail, someone has been enticed away from the relationship that they started.
Scripture tells us that people do turn away from their relationship with God. Take a look at what scripture says about Saul for instance:
1Sa 9:7 Saul went to see Samuel to ask about his father's lost donkeys but he was concerned about going empty handed to the man of God.
1Sa 9:17 He was chosen by God to be king.
1Sa 10:1 He was anointed as king.
1Sa 10:10 He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
1Sa 10:16 He withheld what Samuel said about the kingdom from his father.
1Sa 10:22 He hid from the people when he was proclaimed king.
1Sa 11:11 He defeated the Ammonites.
1Sa 11:13 He proclaimed the will of God.
1Sa 13:9 When the Philistines gathered together to attack Israel, he offered his own burnt offering.
What was it then that turned Saul from God? We can see that he was insecure right from the beginning and when he was under pressure, he decided to do it himself instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive.
The pressure isn't something that comes from God, or is a result of doing what He desires; scripture is very clear about this:
Matthew 11:28-30
(28) Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.
(30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
There are many reasons why people walk away from relationships and pressure is only one of them. More often, it is because of a failure in communication. When someone stops talking to the person they are in a relationship with there is a major problem. This is the same with Saul. If he had been in communication with Samuel or with God he would have known that Saul was still coming.
We mustn't fail to communicate with God. We have direct access to Him; we don't have to talk to Him through any mediator such as Samuel. We can talk directly with Him whenever we want.
One way that we can communicate with God is to talk in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:2
(2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
This is a very important method of communication with God which is extremely underused. God did not give us this communications medium for no reason at all. He gave it to us for our benefit; He gave it to us that through it we would be edified, built up, improved.
1 Corinthians 14:4
(4) The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up a church.
Prayer as also an excellent means of communication with God; simply talk to Him about your problems and He will answer you.
Matthew 7:8
(8) For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.
In truth, there is no reason to ignore God when things are not going well for you. Rather, there is every reason why we should cry out to God the moment things start to go wrong. The only thing that is better than that is to talk to God when things are still going right.
If you are already in communication with the creator of heaven and earth, you will be aware in the spirit when things are likely to go astray and you will be able to pray them right again before problems have a chance to appear.