Relationship vs Religion

1. YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING, "BUT I READ MY BIBLE AND PRAYED TODAY, WHY ARE THINGS STILL SO HARD?!"

There is a cute children's song that says, "read your Bible and pray everyday and you will grow, grow, grow."  We try to teach our children at a young age the importance of daily Bible reading and prayer through not only implementing it into our homeschool curriculum but by example as well. We all know the power and importance of reading our Bible and praying but it alone is not our salvation. I know there was a time when I noticed that the days that I spent time with the Lord in the morning, those days were easier to get through than days that I didn't. The Lord loves for us to come to him first thing when we arise, it blesses Him and it blesses us and makes our relationship with Him stronger. But, if we are doing it with the mindset that our day will be easy peasy because we did our devotions in the morning, we are misled and doing it for the wrong reasons. When we have a relationship with Jesus, it is just that, a relationship. He is with us ALWAYS. When the difficulties come, at that moment, we can call on his name and he will answer. Our prayer time, hours before won't save us. Our time spent in worship at church the day before won't save us either. It may help us remember a scripture or a song to draw us to him, but it is in that moment that we need God, that we need to call for his help, and for His wisdom. He is an ever present help in trouble. That is the beauty of Him dwelling with us, at the time that our kids are screaming and yelling and we have no clue what to do that God can give us the patience and the words, to speak if we ask. Spending time in his word helps us to have a well to draw from, we just need to remember that the well is indeed there and that we can draw from what is hidden in our heart and  the presence of God every moment of our day! 

2. YOU FEEL GUILTY WHEN YOU HAVE TO MISS CHURCH.

Basically this is saying that you are worried about what other people think. I understand that we want to be good examples to the younger generation when it comes to church attendance but we can't worry about what others think. Maybe you just had a baby, or one of your children are sick. There will be times you have to miss a service and usually it is to meet the needs of other people in your family. God has given you your family and you are responsible for their well being, you do not need to feel guilty about that! If you do have to miss church you do not need to feel ashamed or act like you committed some sort of sin. Just be responsible. If you are supposed to teach Sunday School or help with the offering, be sure to let the right people know you won't be there, simply stay accountable!

3. YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE REALLY PART OF YOUR CHURCH UNLESS YOU ARE PLACED IN SOME SORT OF LEADERSHIP ROLE.

This is where the rubber meets the road, folks! This, right here, is why many, many people are church hopping, unsatisfied with where they are at. If you find yourself thinking, "leadership doesn't appreciate me," "this church doesn't see the giftings and calling I have on my life," "I could be doing so much more," "why is so-and-so in that position and I am not," then you are in a dangerous place. God is the one that lifts up and puts down. If you try to put yourself into a position too early, there could be problems if the character, integrity and experience doesn't match up. There is nothing wrong with being trained, with sitting under a ministry and receiving from them. Your time will come and when you are there, you wouldn't want everyone under you trying to usurp your authority! Be patient, stay close to Jesus and in due time He will use you in the way He seems fit!

4. YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING, "WOULD OF, SHOULD OF, COULD OF," OFTEN TO YOUR PEERS AFTER NOT PRAYING FOR OR WITNESSING TO SOMEONE. 

Get over it please. Ok, maybe you should have witnessed to that girl at the park. Maybe it was a divine appointment and you missed it but, that is between you and the Lord. When God begins to impress on your heart to minister to people that is a beautiful part of your relationship with God. But, that is between you and God alone. Strengthen your relationship with God by yielding to these situations and repenting when you don't. You are not more spiritual the more times you witness or pray with people, it is a gift. Your regrets help no one and sometimes makes others around you feel like they aren't doing enough, so keep them to yourself!

5. YOU FEEL OBLIGATED TO HELP EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE OUT OF "CHRISTIAN DUTY," OFTEN TIMES CAUSING BURN OUT.

God has given each of us different gifts, abilities and talents. If we have a religious mindset, when we see a need we think about how we can fix it. Rather, we need to look at the gifts and abilities of those around us and see if maybe God wants to use them! God might be preparing them for such a task as this so be open to say no if the task just isn't for you!