What is your relationship with God?

What is your realtionship with God?

Fearful: God, I will always be a good person because if I am not you will ...

Reasoning: God, I have always loved you and been a good person, why is it that bad things happen to me ...

Negotiable: God, if I go to church every week, and if I give to charity, and if I ... will you then grant me this favour and ...

Argumentative: God, why do you let this happen to me? I thought you cared for me and now look what's happening to me ...

Begging: Please, please God, grant me this favour, it means so much to me please ...

Hesitant: God, I'm not sure whether you'll answer my prayer, or whether you even listen to prayers, I'm just praying just in case ...

Questioning: Why is this happening to me? I thought you loved me, God. I'm confused. I thought that loving you would mean I'd be OK ...

Demanding: God I want you to do this for me, and then this and ...

None of the above: Or perhaps you are one of many who does not have any relationship with God at all, because you do not believe He exists; or if He does, He does not feature in your life.

I am sure you can think of other ways that we turn to God in prayer. And perhaps rarely in thanksgiving for what we already have and take for granted.

But how should we pray to God, what should our relationship with Him be like?

Let's see what Jesus has to say about it:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name ..." Matthew 6:9

"So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows …" Luke 12:7

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:11-13

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8

Often Jesus describes God as a loving Father. His Father as well as ours. He is our Creator who cares for His children as any good father does.

I believe that's how God would like us to pray; that's the kind of relationship He desires. One of trust, love and respect based on the sure knowledge that He cares and loves us and no matter what happens in the world, and in our lives, He is always there by our side.

We need to review often our relationship with God. It should not be a cowering subservient relationship based on fear of punishment and retribution. If God is love then we should be confident enough that He will protect us come what may. To behave otherwise would be an insult to Him in that it betrays our trust in a loving Father.