Maintaining A Right Relationship with God

Bob’s TFT Wednesday 04-16-2025

Bible Passage: Numbers 21:7-8 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.”

We are all sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. As I sat in my chair this morning and meditated on today’s scripture passage, I realized that prayer is not for God since He already knows everything. Prayer is for us to hear, be humbled, and be restored. Prayer is an act of faith in which we first acknowledge that we need God, then humble ourselves as sinners before a holy God, and finally accept God’s unconditionally restoring love.

Prayer turns our attention away from ourselves and focuses on God. From our perspective, our relationship with God is broken because we know we have sinned against Him. God loves us despite our sins. He died for all who surrender their lives to His care. Restoration requires recognition because if we fail to accept our brokenness, we would not need or want to be restored.

People fail to pray because they do not treasure their relationships with God or others. Prayer has the power to rebuild and repair a broken and contrite heart. We move further and further apart when we ignore relationships. Marriage, friendships, and even our relationship with God suffer from silence. Communication is not an option; it is mandatory.

Division results from a lack of caring. Unity is impossible when connections are strained or severed. When we share what is on our hearts and minds, healing begins. The sharing must be reciprocated for communication to occur. Sending, listening, and receiving, followed by receiving, listening, and sending, completes the cycle. When this chain is broken, the relationship is weakened and destroyed if left in disrepair.

I don’t know why I am surprised, but I always hear God in the quietness of prayer. When I turn my attention to Him, I feel His presence and calming spirit. Through prayer, I learn and accept His will as I surrender myself to His care.

Let’s choose to become better communicators! Let’s listen with both ears and speak with one mouth, words that build up rather than teardown. Remember that our relationship with God is the foundation of our relationship. We cannot talk about peace and love if not first filled by God’s Spirit.