Strengthening Relationship With Christ / S3E20

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What happens when trials transform into triumphs through faith? Discover the path to a strengthened relationship with Christ as we explore the profound power of prayer, trust, and scripture in overcoming life’s challenges. This episode promises insights into finding peace and understanding by resting in God's presence, with guidance from scriptures like Philippians 4:6-7 and Proverbs 3:5-6. We also uncover the simplicity of following Jesus, illustrated in Matthew 11:28-30, and how trials can nurture patience and completeness, supported by Romans 8:28 and James 1:2-4. Plus, the significance of worship and community is highlighted, showing how they nurture our spiritual lives and deepen our faith.

As we journey further, we reflect on the eternal promises of faith that guide us through turbulent times. By setting our minds on heavenly things, as Colossians 3:2 suggests, we find peace amid chaos and fulfillment in dedicating our lives to God. We'll delve into Revelations 21:4, offering a vision of a future without pain, sorrow, or death, reinforcing why prioritizing God and strengthening our faith is crucial. This episode invites you to embrace hope in Christ and the powerful impact of community in fostering spiritual growth and resilience.

My website is https://www.godslovingsacrifice.com

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, first thing I want to do is to thank Ziegler
Services for sponsoring thispodcast for the month of January
.
They offer snow removal, whichI'm sure we all hope we don't
need again this winter.
But they offer snow removal,landscaping, lawn care, tree
service, fencing, firewood andother home maintenance services

(00:21):
to Indianapolis and thesurrounding areas.
Wood and other home maintenanceservices to Indianapolis and
the surrounding areas.
Contact them at ZieglerServices.
That'sZ-E-I-G-L-E-R-S-E-R-V-I-C-E-S at
gmailcom.
Thank you, ziegler Services.
Today I want to talk aboutstrengthening our relationship

(00:45):
with Christ.
Sometimes we struggle with thisand not sure where to look and
not sure how to do it, so Iwanted to give us some steps to
go through and some scripturesto use.
My podcast does have atranscript and if you would like

(01:10):
to print this out so you couldkeep it with you, the scriptures
and things will be in there,but then it'll have my talking
in it On my website.
I may add this out there.
If I do, I'll put a note on myFacebook page and tell you about
it.
But first we need to seek Godand that's one way to build your

(01:33):
relationship through Him.
But how do we seek God?
We need to seek Him throughprayer and trust.
Philippians 4, 6-7 says Beanxious for nothing, but in
everything.
By prayer and supplication,with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God,and the peace of God, which

(01:56):
surpasses all understanding,will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus and mindsthrough Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 3, 5-6 says Trust inthe Lord with all of your heart
and lean not on your ownunderstanding.
In all of your ways acknowledgeHim and he shall direct thy

(02:16):
paths.
So we have to trust in Him andwe have to pray.
Prayer is pretty easy.
Sometimes trust is a littleharder.
But when we quit listening toourselves and start trusting Him

(02:36):
with our hearts andacknowledging Him, then we'll be
going in the right paths.
The second way that we can buildour relationship with God is to
find strength in His Word.
Psalms 119.105 says your wordis a lamp to my feet and a light

(03:03):
to my path.
And that's what his word is.
It's our light.
It's our light to light up ourpath to walk with Jesus.
2 Timothy 3, 16-17 says Allscripture is given by
inspiration of God and it isprofitable for doctrine, for

(03:26):
reproof, for correction, forinstruction in righteousness.
That the man of God may becomplete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
His word is what we need tofind our way.

(03:47):
I love learning new scriptures.
You'd think after all theseyears I've heard so many.
But sometimes I hear scripturesand it's like a light goes off
and it's like I can't believe.
I never quite understood thatbefore, not the way I do now,
and that's the I can't believe.
I never quite understood thatbefore, not the way I do now,

(04:08):
and that's the way it is.
We have to be in God's Word allof the time.
One of the big things aboutbuilding our relationship with
God is resting.
You know, if you're building ahouse, you're going to have to
rest, but when you're building arelationship, you have to rest
in God's presence.

(04:29):
Matthew 11, 28-30 says Come tome all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give yourest.
Take my yoke upon you and learnfrom me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you willfind rest for your souls, for my

(04:50):
yoke is easy and my burden islight.
I absolutely love thatscripture.
We try to make being a Christiansometimes so difficult, but
it's not.

(05:10):
It's not difficult.
His yoke is easy, his burden islight.
What does he tell us to do?
Follow him.
Follow him.
That's what we do.
Isaiah 41.10 says fear not, forI am with you.

(05:31):
Be not dismayed, for I am yourGod.
I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you, I willuphold you with my righteous
right hand.
You know, I heard somebodytalking about the poem
Footprints and how they reallylike the poem and it talks about

(05:51):
how the person looks down andonly sees one set of footprints
and that's when God was carryinghim.
But they said, when they thinkof that, they think of following
Jesus, of that, they think offollowing Jesus.
You only see one set offootprints, because you have
accepted Jesus, you'vereconciled yourself with Jesus

(06:14):
and you're walking in hisfootsteps.
So there would only be one setof footsteps and when we rest in
His presence and let Him holdus, we're going to be walking in
His footsteps.

(06:36):
Another thing that we need to doto build our relationship is
have hope in Christ.
Romans 8.28 says and we knowthat all things work together
for the good of those who loveGod, to those who are called
according to His purpose.
James 1.2-4 says my brethren,count it all, joy when you fall

(07:02):
into various trials, knowingthat the testing of your faith
produces patience.
But let patience have itsperfect work that ye may be
perfect and complete, lackingnothing, I love this song.
My hope is built on nothingless than Jesus' blood and

(07:24):
righteousness, and that's true.
That's where our hope is builtin Christ.
One of the things that is veryimportant is to strengthen your
faith.
And how do we strengthen ourfaith?
Well, one way is throughworship, and I never feel closer

(07:48):
to God than when I'm worshipingHim.
Just thinking about worshipingHim gives me cold chills.
I love that.
Lost in the worship, lost inthe presence of the Holy Spirit,
lost in Jesus' arms, knowingthat God loves me.

(08:09):
Hebrews 10, 24 through 25 saysand let us consider one another
in order to stir up love andgood works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and somuch the more as you see the day

(08:31):
approaching.
We need to have fellowship withother Christians.
We need to worship with otherChristians.
Psalms 34, 1-3 says I willbless the Lord at all times.
His praise shall continually bein my mouth.

(08:51):
My soul shall make its boast inthe Lord.
The humble shall hear of it andbe glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with meand let us exalt his name
together, worshiping andfellowshipping.
Doing that at the same timesure does strengthen your faith,

(09:13):
and if you want to strengthenyour walk with God, then that's
one of the things you have to do.
And finally, you need to stayfocused on His promises, his
eternal promises.

(09:34):
All of these passages that we'vetalked about is a very good
starting point for prayerreflection to deepen your walk
with Christ.
But focusing on His promises isso, so important.
Colossians 3.2 says Set yourmind on things above, not on

(09:58):
things on the earth.
You know, right now things arecrazy.
So many changes are happening.
Right now.
Some people are happy, somepeople are not happy.
It just, of course, you can'tplease everybody, but God does.

(10:18):
When you give your life to God,he does please us.
And I want to leave you withRevelations 21.4, because this
is the eternal promise that hegives us.
This is the reason westrengthen our walk with Him.
This is the reason why weworship and fellowship together.

(10:40):
This is the reason that wepersevere with our hope in
Christ and that we rest in Hispresence and we find strength in
his words and we seek Godthrough prayer and through trust
.
And it all comes to Revelations21.4, and God will wipe away

(11:01):
every tear from their eyes.
There shall be no more death,nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no pain for theformer things have passed away,
and that is such a wonderfulpromise.
Strengthen your walk with God,get in the Word, worship with

(11:27):
others.
Make God your number onepriority in your life.
You already know you're Hisnumber one priority.