Hi Friends,
I want to share a story with you.
I grew up in the church; when I say the church, I mean the Church of Christ.
I loved growing up in the church.
I have fond memories of my youth group, including camping trips, lock-ins at the church, fun Bible classes, singing in the youth choir, going on youth trips, and much more.
Growing up in the church is something I cherish. It gave me a great foundation.
But now that I'm an adult, I realize that serving God is more than going to church and growing up in the church.
Let me explain.
One day, years ago, I was walking with one of my close friends.
She was a godly woman but didn't grow up in the Church of Christ like me. She and I always had great conversations about God on our walks.
But when I talked to her, I noticed that her relationship with God was different from mine…in a good way.
She would often tell me how she fasted and prayed and how God revealed things to her in dreams and other ways about her life and future.
This was mind-boggling to me because, growing up in the church, I was never really taught about fasting, praying, or God revealing things to me.
Talking to her made me wonder if I was missing something in my relationship with God.
Then, there was another time she and I were walking, and a man came up to her, looked right at her, and said, "I can see God in you. I can feel his presence with you. Can I pray with you all?"
So we stopped, and the man prayed with us.
After that, my friend looked at me and said, "This isn't the first time this has happened to me. People come up to me and say that all the time."
I was once again shocked. No one had ever done that to me.
So, once again, I wondered if I was missing something in my relationship with God.
And after being in solitude with God, I realized I was.
I had the religious aspect of church and going to church, but I was missing the intimate relationship with God that my friend had.
God has taught me so many things since then in my quiet time with Him.
I have learned to fast and pray.
I have learned to seek Him and his kingdom first.
I have learned to meditate on his word.
I have learned to pray to him about everything in my life.
By doing these things, I have developed an intimate relationship with God. I can hear his voice clearer, and he has revealed things to me as well.
My lesson in telling you this is that church is important. Going to church is important.
But that is not the only thing you need to have a great relationship with God.
You need to develop a personal relationship with him so that you can have a great and purposeful life.
XO,
Dr. Rich 💋
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