Being closer to God and having a personal relatuionship with him

[faithfull-prophet4040]

i know for it is it written, but i want a persons opinion, a Christians opinion. Will stopping sinning bring me closer to God, and will have a more of an intimate relationship with him by stopping drugs, and cigarettes basically is what.

[johnthebaptist]

6 minutes ago, faithfull-prophet4040 said:

i know for it is it written, but i want a persons opinion, a Christians opinion. Will stopping sinning bring me closer to God, and will have a more of an intimate relationship with him by stopping drugs, and cigarettes basically is what.

Yes, stopping sinning will bring you closer to God, and I would stop smoking, if I were you.

[Who me]

9 hours ago, faithfull-prophet4040 said:

i know for it is it written, but i want a persons opinion, a Christians opinion. Will stopping sinning bring me closer to God, and will have a more of an intimate relationship with him by stopping drugs, and cigarettes basically is what.

 

No, just stopping smoking, drinking, doing drugs, watching porn, and what ever else will not jby just stopping bring you closer to God.

All this will do is slow down your movement away from God.

 

your own intention has to be towards God and you have to be active in seeking him.

 

how?  daily bible reading, thinking about what you have read, praying about it. regular prayer for other people and causes.

pray is not ' Oh God bless that cause.'

But an intelligent account of what is needed, of there problems etc.

This is of course made easier if you are prepared to take part in online church services or attend a local church.

 

So get an every day with Jesus bible reading notes, a set of read through the bible in a year and start reading them both.

May I suggest keeping a notebook of what you read, what struck you and why and what you prayed about.

[BK1110]

We stop sinning when we realize the gravity of it, and we are convicted in our heart of how bad it is, and we desire to honor and please God.

Again, think of a relationship you have with another human. How close you are to them probably directly related to how well you know them and how much you talk to them and interact with them. How can you be close to someone you never interact with?

How do you interact with God? By speaking with him. Praying is you speaking to him. Studying the Bible is him speaking to you. Study and pray. Study and pray. Study and pray. There is no substitute or shortcut.

[faithfull-prophet4040]

I should add that i read the bible, and do all the other things mentioned in the answeres aside from going to church, and im asking with that being said... Will i become closer to God by quitting the drugs and cigaretts, and all selfish desires for that matter?

[PeterR]

25 minutes ago, faithfull-prophet4040 said:

I should add that i read the bible, and do all the other things mentioned in the answeres aside from going to church, and im asking with that being said... Will i become closer to God by quitting the drugs and cigaretts, and all selfish desires for that matter?

Try to look at your questions in a different way. As in the father-child relationship. Would you ask your brothers what your father likes and dislikes in order to get favor from him? Do you want to give him a gift or something? You think He is somewhere far away and we know from the Scriptures that He knows our thoughts. Wouldn't it be better to ask in person? Talk to him, not behind his back. If he takes a cigarette out of your mouth, you will know if it bothers him or not. How old are you to hide from your Father with cigarettes?
And if you want to please your older brothers, do what they tell you.

[Who me]

19 hours ago, faithfull-prophet4040 said:

I should add that i read the bible, and do all the other things mentioned in the answeres aside from going to church, and im asking with that being said... Will i become closer to God by quitting the drugs and cigaretts, and all selfish desires for that matter?

 

Just stopping sinning does not automatically make you closer to God.

All it means is you are not walking away from him.

 

I've mention church attendance in you frequent questions for two reason.

1, the teaching you would get and the discipline through regular attendance.

 

2, fellowship, literally having other Christians you can ring and talk to about problems.

[Lolly]

"The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him”(John 14:21).

Why would you want to do something that Jesus may find offensive? When I first got saved in 1997, the first thing God removed from my life was cigarettes. Every time I picked one up I felt as if I was inhaling the devil. 

I know that I lose fellowship  with God when I do things that displease Him. God is a person and reacts to us when we act in ways that either demonstrate we are trying to please Him or when we act in ways that show we are willing to do things that may displease Him. Is there anything more important than our relationship with God? It's hard to quit smoking, and it was hard for Jesus to go to the cross--He even prayed that the cup may pass away from Him. So, I think we should always rid our lives of anything that is displeasing to Him.

[Mike Mclees]

On 5/11/2021 at 12:33 PM, faithfull-prophet4040 said:

I should add that i read the bible, and do all the other things mentioned in the answeres aside from going to church, and im asking with that being said... Will i become closer to God by quitting the drugs and cigaretts, and all selfish desires for that matter?

Only God knows your battle within. It,s not always just quitting although that would be good. Personal attitude and humility is everything.

Edited May 16, 2021 by Mike Mclees