A Step in the Right Direction
Choosing to assess our relationship with God is the equivalent of taking a giant step in His direction. It requires us to think about Him, and thinking about Him is actually an act of obedience that results in blessings (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). The following promise from the Savior also applies to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63).
Our relationship with God is different from earthly relationships, but it is similar in one way: it requires maintenance. Some of the building blocks necessary for healthy earthly relationships are the same building blocks that help us stay close to our Heavenly Father, such as communication, love, service, and time.
Here are four questions you can use to assess and strengthen your relationship with God.
How’s Our Communication?
We can rest assured that Heavenly Father is always listening and that He’ll communicate with us as long as we’re willing to listen. For many people, talking to God comes easier than listening. You might wonder, “How do I recognize His voice?”
The simplest way is through the knowledge that all good things come from Him (see James 1:17)—good thoughts, good feelings, and positive experiences. When you get in the habit of seeing the good things happening in your life, you’ll begin to understand what it means to see the hand of God.
Can We Feel Each Other’s Love?
Do you think God is aware of your love for Him? Are you striving to feel His love? The Savior taught us that the foremost commandment was to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30). When love is reciprocal in any relationship, it grows. So if we want the love between us to grow, we have to figure out ways to express our love and devotion. The Savior’s words give us a great place to start: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Obeying our Heavenly Father’s commandments is just like saying, “I love you.”
What Have We Done for Each Other Lately?
When we’re serving each other, we’re serving our Heavenly Father (see Mosiah 2:17). When we ask ourselves how we’ve served God lately, we must ask ourselves if we’re reaching out to others. It’s His wish that we always be engaged in loving and helping one another. So if you want to strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father, find someone to serve.
Wondering what God has done for you lately? Practice counting your blessings. He freely rewards His children who choose to express their love through gratitude. Listen to President Monson share insights on the gift of gratitude.
Are We Spending Time Together?
Our Heavenly Father will not come uninvited into our lives; like the Savior, He will patiently knock and wait for us to come to the door. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
Spending quality time with our Father in Heaven can happen in many places and in many ways. He’s always available. We’ve been encouraged to go about life with a prayer in our hearts (see 3 Nephi 18:19). This is an ideal way to draw near to our Father in Heaven, and it allows Him to draw closer to us.
Watch a young brother and sister from Ghana share what they’ve learned from striving to strengthen their relationship with Heavenly Father.