Your Relationship with God
Pope Shenouda III speaks about the essence of the true relationship between a human being and God. He explains that the life of faith is not based only on external practices or rituals, but on a deep personal relationship filled with love and connection with God in all aspects of life.
Types of Relationships with God
Pope Shenouda III explains that a person has many relationships in life, but the most important one is the relationship with God. This relationship can take different forms. It may be a relationship of fear, where a person fears punishment, or a relationship of benefit where a person seeks only his needs, or a formal relationship limited to prayers and rituals without true love in the heart.
But the ideal relationship with God is a relationship of love, in which a person feels God’s closeness to him, speaks with Him as a heavenly Father, friend, and beloved, and longs for Him as the thirsty land longs for water.
Formal Relationship vs. True Relationship
Pope Shenouda III warns against superficial faith, where a person practices religious rituals or appearances without the heart being connected to God. A person may pray, fast, or participate in church, yet still have no true relationship with God.
The true relationship goes beyond appearances; it is a heartfelt relationship in which a person feels God’s presence in his life and lives with Him at all times.
Beginning the Relationship with God
Pope Shenouda III explains that the true relationship with God begins with repentance. Repentance is not merely a change in behavior, but a true reconciliation with God, in which a person feels sorrow because he has sinned against God, not merely because he sinned before people.
Some people begin their relationship with God through a divine calling or a spiritual experience, but what matters most is the continuation of this relationship and not letting it stop.
Continuity of the Relationship with God
Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that the relationship with God should be stable and continuous, not intermittent. Some people turn to God only during times of distress or need, then forget Him when the problem ends.
But the true relationship is a permanent one in which a person lives with God at all times—in joy and distress, inside the church and outside it.
God in a Person’s Life
Pope Shenouda III asks an important question: Is God for a person merely a doctrine he believes in, or a life he lives?
A true believer does not only believe in the existence of God but also feels His presence in daily life, placing God before him in all his actions, trying to please Him and avoiding sin because he does not want to grieve God’s heart.
The Goal of the Relationship with God
The purpose of the relationship with God is not merely performing religious duties or serving in the church, but loving God and living in His companionship. The spiritual person seeks to be with God always and finds in God’s presence the greatest treasure in his life.
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