For this week’s post, I have asked my friend Miriam, writer of the blog Crafted By Christ, to share a guest post with you all. I hope you are as challenged as I was to claim authentic faith and dive deeper into my relationship with Jesus. Be sure to subscribe to her blog here to further discover how you can craft your life to better represent Jesus!

Great post, Miriam! I pray that you will continue to run the race God has marked out for you! Keep up the good work!

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Admit it.

Sometimes you get bored of Christianity. Especially if you have grown up in church, the Sunday school stories may have lost their appeal and the Gospel probably seems like old news. You may even be at the point where you are questioning whether Christianity is the real deal.

So what if David killed Goliath thousands of years ago? So what if Noah built a big boat? So what if Jesus did miracles? This is the 21st century. We don’t wear robes anymore, and we are bored of all the old Sunday school stories.

Maybe you can relate. But despite what we sometimes think, Christianity is not just for children and old people. Christianity is for people of all ages, including young adults and teens. Sunday school Christianity is boring. But a relationship with Jesus is so much more than coloring sheets and felt figures. If you are feeling like a numb Christian, bored with the stories and longing for something much more fulfilling than you are not alone. Here are five ways that you can take your relationship with Jesus to the next level and truly make your faith your own.

1.      Pray

It sounds so simple, but if you are regularly communicating with God, He will ignite a passion within you that cannot be put out. Passionate, Biblical prayer is the key to making Christianity more than just a religious duty. Prayer results in a deep relationship with God rather than just a religious duty to Him. I am not talking about pre-written prayers and saying grace before dinner. What I am referring to is a constant communication with God—going to Him for everything, whether you are having a fantastic day, or you just wish that you could stay in bed.  When Jesus becomes your friend rather than just your religion, Christianity becomes much more exciting.

2.      Find a new strategy for reading the Bible

They probably told you in church that you should read the Bible, but they likely didn’t tell you how. After all, the Scriptures were written a very long time ago in a completely different culture so they can be difficult to understand. But reading the Bible can still change your life, if only you know how to comprehend and apply it. Finding a Bible study book can help with this. As you continue to read Scripture for yourself, however, there are some strategies for reading and applying the Bible to your life:

-Pick a daily time and place to read the Bible.

-Journal or pray to calm your thoughts and get ready to focus on what God wants to say to you through His Word.

-Read! Pick a book (if you do not know where to start, I would recommend beginning in John or James) and read a little bit every day. There is no pressure to read a lot at once; just take it a few verses at a time so you can really understand and apply the meaning.

-Ask questions. If you are confused about what you read, then ask your pastor, do a Google search, or look up some terms so you can understand the passage more fully.

-Commit. Take what you read for the day and turn it into an action. Then, commit to practically apply what you learn.

-Pray. Use what you’ve read in the Bible to pray for yourself and others, to praise God, or to ask God for a need in your life. Reading your Bible should always be accompanied by prayer, because, like any relationship, your relationship with God requires two-way communication.

Reading the Bible takes discipline, but making it a daily practice can transform your faith and take you to new levels in your relationship with God.

3.      Remember that the Gospel is for saved people too

People often think of the Gospel as that one-time decision that they made at youth camp back when they were six. But “being saved” goes way beyond the initial surrender. Jesus saves us from our sins every day. The Gospel is applicable in our lives even more so after we are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). You may be bored of religion, but never allow yourself to become bored with the Gospel. The Gospel is the core of who we are and what our purpose is. Sometimes religious tradition unintentionally distorts the Gospel as being “step 1” in Christianity, while really it is the basis of everything a Christian is and does. If you are bored of Christianity, re-evaluate your view of the Gospel.

4.      Re-define regular Christian terms

Just like you may need to re-define your view of the Gospel, you may also need a fresh perspective of other basic Christian terms, such as “righteousness,” “faith,” and “love.” When I studied the real meaning of the word “righteousness,” for example, I was surprised by what I had been missing. Righteousness is not just doing the right thing; it is Jesus stepping between us and God so that when God looks at us, He sees the perfection of Christ. This is only one example of fascinating truths hidden in seemingly basic or cliche Christian terms. I encourage you to read what the Bible and trusted Christian leaders have to say about these familiar terms in Christianity and get a new perspective of the basics. The same concept goes for the age-old Sunday school stories you think you know so well. Re-evaluating the basics of Christianity can give you a fresh perspective and vigor for God.

5.      Surround yourself with people who encourage you

Lastly, find a group of people who are so passionate about God that you cannot help but be refreshed and challenged. Whether that means finding a new church or getting involved with a Christian group outside of church, spending time with people who have broken the mold of Sunday school Christianity can encourage you to do the same. We are not in our struggle alone, so why isolate ourselves in it?

If you’re bored of Christianity, do not lose heart. Many of us have been there. Now is the time for you to make faith in Christ your own, not give it up.

David killed Goliath, so we know, with God on our side, we can face hard things in our lives.

Noah built an Ark, teaching us that we can overcome sin and honor God despite opposition.

Jesus performed miracles in the past so we can be certain that He has power in our lives today.

Religion is boring, but a relationship with the God of the universe is the most exciting experience you’ll ever have. Ditch your dry traditions and step into the fulfilling relationship that God is offering to you today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY&t=5s

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L.I.F.E. – – – Live Intently For Eternity

Life is not about living for ourselves, it is about living, earnestly, in light of what He did for us.