Ever since I can remember, the church has told something that I’ve carried with me my whole life. “There are three things you can do to be a Christian and to be close to God.” Anybody know this one? “Go to church, read the bible and pray.” Being told this so many times, I began to be brainwashed in this idea. My thought process developed that “I go to church every Sunday and most Wednesdays, I pray whenever I need to and I read my bible on Sundays.” I always felt like a bad Christian because I was never consistent with these three things. So when I decided to go on the World Race, I was relieved that I would be a “better Christian” and be closer to God because I will pray more, go to church and read the bible more consistently.
I’m now officially half way done on the world race and in the midst of month six. I read the bible every day, I pray a lot more, and I go to church every time it’s an option. Since I now do what I’ve always been told I should be doing, I realized that what I’ve been told is not the truth. I can pray, read my bible everyday and go to church every week but still not be close to God. I feel like I’ve been brainwashed to think if I do these things, the pearly gates will swing open for me and all of Heaven will jump up and down with excitement to see me! All because I followed the three things I’ve always been told I should do to be closer with God. Nope, not the case. The truth is children, it’s all about your heart. You give your heart to God, you’ll be close with him. I can go to my friend’s talent show performance, read her notes she writes to me, and talk to her whenever it’s necessary, and still not be close with her. It’s the fact that I’m giving her my heart while watching her perform, that I’m thoroughly interested in her thoughts and want to know her heart when I read her notes to me and fully give her all my attention and heart to her while talking and listening to her that makes us closer.
Sometimes I wonder, am I doing these things “I’m supposed to” just to do them for tally marks on my score board in Heaven or am I truly giving my whole heart in this to actually be closer to God? So I say yes to what God wants me to do. I say yes to giving my heart in reading his word, in giving him my full attention when we talk, and not just simply going through these motions. It’s not about the pearly gates swinging open. It’s about me and my father loving eachother and me giving him as much as possible because I know he already gives me everything.
So how about you? Do you say yes today? Do you want to become closer to the one who loves you the most? Give him everything today, because he does it for you.
<3
