Depth of Our Efforts

Our relationship with the Lord will only go as deep as our efforts. While it's true that God pursues us, we do not just get to sit around and receive all God's wonderful gifts, character, and words without putting any effort in. As a people who loves to be heard, but doesn't want to listen, we can often use this posture towards God. We must not only want to hear from God, but be in a humble position to hear from Him. Our relationship with God is not some passive relationship that we get to reap benefits without putting any effort into it. We won't hear from God if we're not reading His Word. We won't grow in our relationship if we aren't spending time with Him. He's there, but we must be active in that relationship. All relationships require effort. To think God isn't included in that puts Him at the bottom of your relationships in regards to priority and depth. God doesn't want part of your heart, He wants all of you. In order to do that, we must be intentional about our time, posture, and depth of everything we do. Relationships take time. Relationships take investment. Relationships take care. Relationships take intentionality. Relationships take effort. We often blame God for Him not speaking, for our relationship with Him being so surface level. How can we blame God when He's speaking, but we choose to ignore Him? How can we blame Him for the relationship being surface level when we actively avoid the deep end? Blame is the enemy's favorite tool. Blame pulls others down and elevates self. Blame shouts "Don't look at me. Look at what they did. It isn't my fault. We are not as innocent as the enemy wants us to believe. Blame magnifies others faults and shrinks your own. It is the opposite of what the Word says to do,

" 'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

-Matthew 7:3-5

Blame takes away our responsibility for our lack of effort. The shortcomings of our relationship with God have nothing to do with Him and everything to do with us. He isn't speaking? Your Bible is covered in an inch of dust. He isn't close? You've run the other way. He isn't making time for you? You've worked, done school, hung out with friends, watched tv, worked out, yet still, your Bible remains closed. He isn't moving? Your knees haven't even come close to kneeling. He isn't listening? You haven't taken the time to speak. Our flesh will try to convince us that everything is God's fault or someone else's, yet the common denominator is YOU. The depth of your relationship with God is determined by the depth of your efforts. He is not a forceful God and He will not force you into relationship with Him. Just as with any relationship, if you want to grow it, if you want to deepen it, both sides must put in the effort. God has already put in the effort. He's always all in. He's just waiting for you to be too. He's just waiting for you to choose deeper, but it requires action on your part. Let us take willing action to deepen our relationship with Him. It will require sacrifices, of time, certain friendships, fun/relaxing things. We must adjust priorities, increase efforts, and align our hearts with His.