5 STEPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

5 Steps to Strengthen Your Relationship with Jesus | Where is Your Voice Ministries 

In this episode of Where is Your Voice Ministries podcast, Erica shares five essential steps to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ, whether you're a new believer or have been walking with Him for years. The steps include believing in Jesus, investing time in your relationship, reading and believing the Bible, respecting the Holy Spirit, and maintaining simplicity and consistency in your faith. Erica illustrates each point with scriptural references and practical advice, offering a comprehensive guide to nurturing a stronger spiritual connection. The episode concludes with a salvation prayer for those looking to begin or renew their faith journey. #StrengthenFaith #Jesus #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HolySpirit #SpiritualGrowth #WhereIsYourVoiceMinistries #FaithJourney #NewBeliever #WalkWithJesus #ChristianPodcast #DailyDevotion #Prayer #Worship #GodsLove #Salvation #FaithBuilding #JesusLovesYou #ChristianLiving #TrustInGod #Encouragement #SeekJesus #FaithSteps #ChristianCommunity 

00:00 Introduction: Deepening Your Relationship with Jesus 

00:39 Step 1: Believe in Jesus and His Sacrifice 

07:53 Step 2: Invest in Your Relationship with Jesus 

10:54 Step 3: Read and Believe the Bible 

13:42 Step 4: Honor the Holy Spirit 

19:06 Step 5: Keep It Simple but Consistent 

24:42 Conclusion and Salvation Prayer 

Transcript

5 Steps to Strenghen Your Relationship with Jesus
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[00:00:00] 


Introduction: Deepening Your Relationship with Jesus
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Do you desire a deeper relationship with Jesus, whether you're a new believer or someone who's been walking with him for years? Sometimes we all reach moments where we feel distant or spiritually dry. If that's you, today's episode is for you. My name is Erica, and welcome to Where is Your Voice Ministries podcast.

Today's episode is titled Five Steps to Strengthen Your Relationship With. Jesus. Let's get into it. 


Step 1: Believe in Jesus and His Sacrifice
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Step number one is you need to believe in Jesus and what he has done for you. Of course, this should be a given, but what you may not know is you will need to constantly remind yourself of this. Fact, Paul, in Ephesians [00:01:00] chapter six, speaks of the full armor of God, and one of those armors is the helmet of salvation.

And the reason you need to make sure this is on is because you will have to remind yourself constantly of who Jesus is and what he did for you, because the world friends, the enemy is going to be trying to change how you view Jesus. The enemy may say to you, did Jesus really say that? Did Jesus really do that?

Do you really believe that Jesus is the Messiah? Is he truly the Savior? Or you may say, Jesus is mad at me, or you question his love for you, and you might start viewing his love in the same way you view human love, like the person who hurt you, the person who gave up on you. [00:02:00] The person who let you down when you really needed them.

Let's go to Mark chapter 15, verse 16 through 41, the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him, and they began to call out to him. Hell, king of the Jews again and again.

They struck him on the head with the staff and spit on him falling on their knees. They paid homage to him and when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his clothes on him. Then they let him out to crucify him . Certain man from Serene Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufuss was [00:03:00] passing by on the way in from the country and they forced him to carry the cross.

They brought Jesus to this place. Which means the place of the skull. Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it, and they crucified him, dividing up his clothes. They cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written charge against him read the King of the Jews.

They crucified two rebels with him, one of his right and one of his left. Those who pass by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, so you. Who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself in the same way. The chief priest and the teachers of the law mocked him among themself.

He saved others, they said, but [00:04:00] he can't save him himself. Let this Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe those crucified with him. Also heap insults on them. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, and at three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, listen, he's calling Elijah. Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on his staff and offered it to Jesus to drink. Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him. He said with a loud cry, Jesus' breath. His last, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

And when the Satum who stood there in front of Jesus, [00:05:00] saw how he died, he said, surely this man was the son of God. Whew, now. As you heard, this is what Jesus did for you and me well before he knew us. So how can he be mad at you? So mad to walk away from you? How can he ever leave your side? How is he truly not the messiah?

When you spend active time dwelling on the crucification of Jesus Christ, this is what strengthens not just your relationship. But also your love for Jesus because how can you not love someone who died for you so that you can live forever? Jesus bore everyone's sin so that we can have eternal life that is pure love, and there isn't a [00:06:00] human in this world that will ever express that level of love.

This is how you know it has to be from God, from a higher. Power. So you have to spend a good moment of time every day dwelling on a crucification. I like to pick certain parts of this story depending on what I may be going through. If I'm having doubt about Jesus meeting me as a mom, I would think about Mary at the cross and how hard it must have been for her to see her son up there.

If I'm struggling with Jesus meeting my needs with different fears in my life, I dwell on the feet of Jesus at the cross, and I also do this when I pray in tongues as well. I dwell on Jesus' feet at the cross because everything we do has to be from a place of love. Even when we pray in the spirit, when I'm struggling with wanting to be exalted, I [00:07:00] think about Jesus writing in on a dunking.

As you can see, the key here is to keep your mind on Jesus in all ways that you can, and that will strengthen your relationship with Jesus without a doubt in my mind. This will work also in Psalms chapter 42, verse five. It reads. Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me, put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my savior, and my God.

The Arthur was stating that even in hard times where he may feel like God is not present, he still needs to put his hope on the Lord. The next step will help your heart with Jesus and your relationship. Step number two. 


Step 2: Invest in Your Relationship with Jesus
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To strengthen your relationship with Jesus is to invest in [00:08:00] Jesus. Matthew chapter six, verse 21 reads for where your treasure is there your heart will also be.

This means whatever you invest in, you will naturally grow a love towards it. Think a new relationship when you first meet that person. You have a crush on them. You all start hanging out, getting to know each other. You're calling them, texting them, going out on dates. You're sacrificing time and money for that person.

Then the next thing you know, you're small interest in them is now a full blown love. They are in your heart now. You love them, even when the relationship ends up going sour. One of the biggest events people make is how much time they wasted and money they wasted with that person. [00:09:00] And usually that's what would keep them in the relationship well after it expired because they wanna feel as though it wasn't worth their time, effort, and money they spent.

This is what Matthew chapter six, verse 21 is stating this is also how you strengthen your relationship with Jesus is by spending time with Jesus, solo time with you and Jesus. This can be in prayer. Worship, walking, sitting on the couch any way that works best for you, but take some time every day to spend solo time with you and Jesus.

Sometimes I will go on foot and listen to worship music first. To set the ambiance, then I'll turn the music off and I'll start talking to him and I will allow him to speak to me back. So this is the part where you don't speak, you just sit [00:10:00] and listen. If you have a hard time doing this, just start chanting Jesus' name repeatedly.

Then wait and listen. If you still don't hear anything, do that again until he answers you. Because he will answer you back without a doubt. He desires a relationship with you even more than you desire a relationship with him. Sometimes in this moment, he would just tell me a Bible verse to read, and that is great because I know that is him speaking.

Ask yourself. What part of my day can I give to Jesus? Consistently mourning prayer, a 10 minute walk with him, turning off noise and just listening. All right, let's move on to step number three. 


Step 3: Read and Believe the Bible
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So step number three to strengthen your relationship with Jesus is to read his [00:11:00] word, the Bible and believe what you're reading.

So this is a different type of reading. The word this is. You studying and trying to find the gold diamond and all the mysteries of the Bible, because a lot of people will say, oh, I always read the Bible and nothing changes and. In my mind, I say, so did the Pharisees. The Pharisees were scholars of the Bible, but they didn't read it to know God.

They read it to get glory amongst people. Let's go to 

corret: John

Chapter five, verse 39 through 47. You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have internal life. These are the very scriptures that testify about me. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but [00:12:00] I know you.

I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my father's name and you do not accept me, but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept them. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another, but do not seek the glory that comes from only God? But do not think I will accuse you before the Father.

Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you will believe me for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you gonna believe what I say? So that is Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, and you have to ask, are we reading the Bible just to learn facts or are we letting it lead us into the presence of Jesus, as Jesus said in the scriptures point to him, but we must go beyond page and [00:13:00] come to him.

It's not just about reading the Bible, it's about encountering Jesus through the Bible. The Pharisees new scripture inside and out, but miss the heart of it, the person of Jesus. So when you read the Bible, always ask yourself. Every time you open the Bible, ask, what is Jesus trying to say to me and how will I respond?

That's how you shift from reading the Bible to encountering the living word. Now, this next step might challenge you, but it is key, and that is step number four. 


Step 4: Honor the Holy Spirit
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Do not grieve our quince, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus left here for us. The Holy Spirit is the mind of God, and you will need it for every spiritual thing in First Corinthians [00:14:00] chapter two.

Verse 10 through 14, it reads, these are the things God has revealed to us by his spirit. The spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God for who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them. In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world.

But the spirit who is from God so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words talk by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with spirit taught words. The person without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God, but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are [00:15:00] discerned only through the spirit.

If you are not caring for the Holy Spirit. Which is inside of you is no way you can have a relationship with Jesus nor interpret the Bible in certain activities we do can quince and grieve the Holy Spirit, which will make it harder for you to hear that small still voice. Let's go to Ephesians chapter four, verse 29 through 32.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and [00:16:00] slander among with every form of malice.

Kind, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you. And in Ephesians chapter five, verse 18 through 20. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the spirit speaking to one another with Psalms and hymns and songs from the spirit.

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord always gives thanks to God . The father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then in First Thessalonians chapter five verse 19, it reads, do not quince the Holy Spirit, . Which means not allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and not obeying it when it's speaking to you.

The more you grieve [00:17:00] and quench the Holy Spirit, the harder it will become to have a relationship with Jesus. You won't even rise when the trumpet is called, when Jesus calls the saints because the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God are one. So you saying. I don't listen or care about how I treat my body and others.

It's affecting your Holy Spirit in a disrespectful manner, and therefore you're doing the same to Jesus who died for us to have the Holy Spirit, which is how we communicate with. Jesus and leads us in all aspects of life. The Holy Spirit is what helps you to be kind to others because the more you walk in the spirit, the easier it will be to display the fruits of the Spirit and it will lead you to a deeper relationship with Jesus.

I encourage you. [00:18:00] To start speaking to the Holy Spirit about everything. As soon as you wake up, say, good morning, holy Spirit, this is what I have planned for today. Does that plan work for you? Is there anything listed God will not want me to do? This is how you start to deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit is by actively seeking the Holy Spirit for everything in your life, and apply the Holy Spirit in all aspects of your life.

And with doing this consistently, your relationship with Jesus will strengthen. Without a doubt. Just be consistent. Speak to the spirit. Allow the spirit to guide you in faith and trust the process, but also give yourself grace as well. The Holy Spirit isn't just a helper. He's God with us, and he's the voice that leads comforts, [00:19:00] corrects and teaches us.

Talk to him daily. My last step. 


Step 5: Keep It Simple but Consistent
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Number five, to strengthen your relationship with Jesus is to keep it simple but consistent. Jesus is not looking for who prays the longest, preaches the longest. Fast. The longest, who makes a prayer closet? Has the whole Bible memorized, serves all around the church? No.

Jesus is looking for consistency. In Proverbs chapter eight, verse 17, it reads, I love those who love me and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. Find ways to make knowing Jesus. As simple as possible. This may be one Bible verse a day, which is perfectly fine because you will [00:20:00] notice that that one Bible verse a day will start to increase as the Holy Spirit guides you.

You might even pick one chapter in the Bible. Let's say Psalms chapter 23, and you read that chapter the same one for a whole month, and that is better for your spirit than trying to the whole Bible in a year. Because the more you stay in that one chapter, you'll start to notice things about it that will speak to you differently every day.

And that's the Holy Spirit ministering to you now because you decided to diligently stick to one chapter for a whole month. In Matthew chapter 13, verse 44, it reads, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man [00:21:00] found it, he hid it again. Then Joy went and sewed all he had and bought that field.

The reason I use this verse because I wanna illustrate how Jesus spoke their language. They were all farmers. So when Jesus used this parable, he was keeping the message as simple as possible. And if that's the example Jesus shows us, you have to know that also is how he wants our relationship to be.

Easy, simple, loving, so that way you start to desire and delight in Jesus if you start engaging in all the church activities, trying to read the Bible as much as possible. Over tithing and you're doing these things because you think you have to, not because you desire to. Then you will [00:22:00] fall into the same way of thinking that the Jews thought in Romans 10, two and says they had a zeal for God but didn't understand God's righteousness.

I also do understand that we do get over zealous for good intentions, so we think we are doing it with pure intentions, but the best way to know if your intentions are pure is by asking, am I doing this out of love or obligation? Because it's not our timing. It's God's timing, so you also can't rush this process.

I encourage to keep it simple, but consistent, and this is how you will keep your heart on Jesus, because once you start doing more than what your heart truly desires to do, you become better. Like Martha was with Mary, how the Prodigal's brother was when his brother [00:23:00] returned. And you start to view God's love in a way that people are.

So you get into this work mentality with God, and the Lord says, we can't boast about what we do because he does it for us no matter what we do. You're in the kingdom. The kingdom is in you. So relax, knowing that part is done and the next season it just is. You are building up your relationship with Jesus, which takes faith, trust, and time.

What he is doing is in you, so it's hard to see it, but start journaling so you can see how much your relationship has become stronger since you began. You should be able to look back on your life and say, wow, I'm kinder. Now I'm more patient. Now I'm forgiving now. I don't get as a. Offended anymore. These things [00:24:00] happen in you and sometimes we don't notice until we dwell on it.

So I encourage to start writing your prayers plans you have with God when you hear the Holy Spirit speak to you as well. Write those down so you can look back and say, wow. Look how much stronger my relationship is with Jesus now and it's still building. If you stay consistent and even the small things, God will meet you there and build something beautiful.

Any you. Okay, so that's it for my steps for today. 


Conclusion and Salvation Prayer
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If you don't believe in Jesus or maybe. You used to but have backslid and go ahead and pray the salvation prayer with me. You can just repeat after me. And if you do this prayer please let me know. So, 'cause I would love to guide you in some other [00:25:00] areas as well and just aid you in your new journey.

And congratulations to you. 'cause you know that angels in heaven celebrate when one person says yes to Jesus. So here we go. If you decide to do this prayer, I will say it slowly and you can just repeat after me. Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God.

And that he died on the cross for my sins. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I invite Jesus into my heart [00:26:00] and ask him to be my Lord and savior.

Thank you for this new life. In Jesus name, amen.

If you pray that prayer today, please let me know. I'll love to connect and support you. And remember, heaven is rejoicing over you. Alright? Be blessed.