How to Grow Your Relationship With God

by Rick Warren — February 22, 2023
From The Life You Were Meant to Live

“To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.”

John 1:12 (TLB)

Yesterday we talked about why it’s important for you to know the purpose of your life so that God can use you while you’re here on Earth. This life is preparation for eternity—but what does that mean in practical terms? How do you use your life here to prepare for eternity?

First, you get to know Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them” (John 1:12 TLB). Notice that not everybody’s a child of God—just those who receive him into their lives. God wants you to establish a relationship with him by trusting in him.

You grow a relationship with God the same way you grow any relationship—through time and conversation.

For example, if I want to grow my relationship with my wife, Kay, what do I have to do? First, I have to spend time with her. I have to show her that I’m invested in getting to know her by making time for her and making the time count. You cannot have a relationship with someone you never spend any time with.

That’s the same way you develop a relationship with God. You make time in your schedule for him. One way to make him the most important part of your is day through a daily quiet time. You get alone with God and worship him and learn from him. You spend regular, significant time with him.

The second thing you can do to have a relationship is to talk. In a relationship with God, this means prayer. There are many ways to be more intentional about your prayer life. Maybe you need to start a prayer journal of requests and answered prayer. You could make a prayer card using Scripture and put it on your bathroom mirror, on your desk at work, or on your phone so that you are reminded to pray God’s Word. Or maybe your family needs to have a set time of prayer together each day. Whatever it is you need to do to increase your conversation with God, do it!

You will never regret investing your time, your energy, and your life in getting to know God better. Take the first step in getting ready to be used by God by spending time with him and talking to him today.

Talk It Over

  • Is your relationship with God the most important one in your life? What evidence in your life shows that this is true?
  • What do you need to change about your schedule so that you can be more consistent in having a daily quiet time with God?
  • Think of two practical ways you can increase or improve your conversations with God. How can you put those ideas into practice today?

God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).

Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, pray this simple prayer: "Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.