Yes, my username stands for the university.
1) It would bring me closer to him. They tell me that when they wake up they talk to him about helping them threw their day
2) I feel very close to him
3)Yes
4) Yes
Thanks for answering.
I'll try to be concise. I really love your question and could write books and books on this, but I'll try to be to the point.
So what we have as believers is a relationship with God through Jesus. This is one thing that really separates Christianity from other religions.
In Islam Allah is distant and cannot be known intimately, but he needs to be obeyed. In Hinduism you have hundreds of gods
all who are different and with different personalities. With Christianity, God traded the comforts of Heaven to come down to earth
so you He could have a relationship with you. Christian is all about
relationship.
Relationship with God, which transfers into a right
Relationship with our fellow human.
Relationship with God comes from abiding in His love.
John 15:10 : "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love."
Jesus said, if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love.
When we abide in His love (relationship with God),
we will bear fruit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness,
and Self-Control, which all translates into relationship with our fellow man(woman).
John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
With that said, like any relationships, they will be different because we all are different. Every mature Christian does not
have the same relationship with God as the other. For example, I may spend quality time with God while composing music
for His glory, and you may spend quality time with God while writing a Bible poem. I may serve God or feel close to God while listening
to the problems of a friend, and you may experience that while ministering to the homeless. We also have different gifts
which we use not for our benefit but for the benefits of others, and as service to God.
I saw all this to say that though you should desire to be close to God in your relationship, don't necessarily envy someone
elses relationship with him. My wife and I sometimes played sports together and I enjoy that, someone and their wife might
go dancing and they enjoy that. I shouldn't necessarily envy the fact that they dance and look at my marriage and say, I wish
I danced like they did. In a sense it could(may not) be coveting. No two marriages are exactly the same because we are all different,
and since God made you different your relationship with God will be different than mine.
But regardless of our difference, everyone will be closet to God when they give Him their all. Whatever that is.
Love God with all your heart(your desires), soul(Character), mind(your thoughts), and strength(your time).
Luke 10:27: "He answered, "
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength and with all your mind'; and,
'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Take away
(1) I will say focus on abiding in God's love by allowing His Holy Spirit to help understand His love for you which leads to a desire
to keep His commandments. Not because you fear punishment, but because you realize they are for your God
(2) Next, focus on your prayer life, not necessarily trying to praying more(though that is very important), but focus on the quality. And I challenge you to even
pray(talk) out loud. Find a quiet place and set time, to pray. Praying out loud will help your thoughts from wandering.
Also foster general increased communication with God. For example, when something is
bothering you talk to God about it(doesn't have to be out loud). When you are thankful, talk to God about it. Talk to him about the small
things that seem trivial, like your interest, not just the big life crisis request.
(3) Third continue in his WORD. Read the Bible.
(4) Finally, serve, serve, and serve some more. Serve others, look for opportunities
to serve those in need. This is also wonderfully highlighted when your service is linked
to a gift you have. Search yourself and see what gifts God has given you and, use those
gifts to serve others.
Take the 4 points to heart and your relationship with God will improve. There is no magic formula but being close to Jesus is the focus,
everything else will flow out of that when His Holy Spirit is the one leading you.
