From Religion to Relationship

Heather M Larribas
Jan 6
3 min read

Good morning, Faith Under Fire readers.

I was thinking about this last night and felt prompted to ask a simple but important question: Have you ever wondered what kind of relationship God wants to have with you?

For many people, the word religion feels heavy. It can make us uncomfortable or even push us away. But here is the simple truth. What matters most is not religion. What matters is your relationship with God.

It does not matter what anyone else thinks or tells you about how you should act or believe. This is personal. This is between you and Him. Your relationship with God is what shapes you from the inside out. He is continually working in you, molding you to become more like Jesus. Scripture tells us that we are called to be Christlike, and that happens through relationship, not rules.

Red heart shape with text "GOD WANTS YOUR HEART, NOT YOUR PERFECTION" in black. Simple, motivational message conveying acceptance.

When you allow God to work in you and through you, He begins to sift away what does not belong. He gently chips away at the rough edges and molds you into who He created you to be. As that relationship grows, obedience becomes easier and more natural. It is no longer forced. It flows from love.

This ties closely to what I shared yesterday about obedience. When you allow God to be part of your daily life and truly get to know Him, everything begins to change. He already knows you. He created you. But He wants you to know Him.

Beach scene with gentle waves, distant hills, and a serene sky. Text reads "LIVE FOR CHRIST" in bold above the horizon. Calm mood.

When you invite God into your life, you will begin to see the blessings He has for you. You will feel a deeper sense of peace, love, and joy. I know this personally because I did not have God in my life from the beginning. I knew Him for a season, but I did not truly understand who Jesus was.

Everything changed when I started chasing Jesus through Scripture. I began in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. That is where I learned who Jesus really is. That is where I allowed Him to become my friend. And that is when I realized just how much we need a real relationship with Him.

I often say this: the more you chase Jesus, the more He reveals Himself to you. He already knows you completely, but He wants you to discover who He is and all that He has prepared for you.

So today, or whenever you have a quiet moment, I encourage you to ask yourself: What is my relationship with God like? How important is that relationship to me and my Creator?

I promise you this. When you walk through dark times or seasons of struggle, that relationship will remind you that you are not alone. God will walk with you through every trial and every valley.

And here is something people often forget. God is joyful. He is personal. He is even funny. He winks at us throughout the day. He laughs with us. He cries with us. He cares deeply about every part of our lives.

Text reads "Let the love of God consume you" in bold, dark green font on a cream background, conveying a spiritual message.

So today, think of religion simply as relationship. An intimate, personal relationship with God.

We have many relationships in our lives with spouses, children, grandchildren, friends, and loved ones. But this relationship is different. God knows you from the inside out, and He desires closeness with you.

I promise you, it gets better with each passing day.

I hope you have a wonderful day. Take time to think about this. Sit with it. Ponder it. Let God meet you right where you are.

Love and light to you always,