How to connect with God for beginners

Here, we explore how to connect with God for beginners

How to connect with God for beginners is the subject of this booster; designed to help those who are curious about, or ready to, begin your relationship with God. 

Connecting with God can be a meaningful and fulfilling journey that often starts with a desire to find peace, guidance and purpose in life. Like all relationships, your relationship with God begins with a conversation and a few simple words are very helpful openers. 

How to connect with God for beginners

It is not a science with a formula but here are five everyday words to begin your journey as you connect with God.

• YES:

• I know that there is someone bigger than me and I am happy to accept you are God
• I cannot explain the world or live a fulfilled life without understanding where I fit
• I have many questions but I would like to know your plans for my life and what Jesus Christ means for me

• SORRY:

• I am not proud of all the wrong things that I have said, thought and done
• I know that my selfish choices have hurt others and my wilfulness makes me feel ashamed
• I do not like the feeling of guilt and condemnation that I often have

• PLEASE:

• Forgive me for ignoring you and for all the wrong things I have said, thought and done
• Accept me with all my failures and give me a fresh start
• Lift the shame and disappointment I often feel from me

• THANK YOU:

• Jesus for taking the punishment I deserve by dying a cruel death on the cross in my place
• That I can have a new identity as a forgiven and accepted child of God
• For wanting to restore a relationship with me and being willing to give me a new start

• HELP ME:

• To keep on this journey with you and be with me now by your Holy Spirit
• To grow in my faith and to give my doubts to you
• To find a community of other people who also want to follow you so I can be encouraged

Jesus loves you

People flocked to Jesus because they knew he loved them and met their needs as the ‘Good Shepherd’.  He had no time for anyone who was a hypocrite but he called ordinary people to follow him and he is calling you. His promise is to help you in this life and to give you hope that goes beyond the grave. Millions of people have trusted him because he is not a dead person – his resurrection convinced over 500 people as he met them on that first Easter Sunday.

He will always be with you

If you have read this through and find your heart stirred, that is a work of God within you. If you can say you want to follow Jesus as your Lord and accept that he gave his life for you, then you can call yourself a Christian and a child of God. His promise is to be with you always and never to fail you – he offers you complete security and a reason for living.

The early Benedictines monks lived in community with a daily rhythm of bible reading and prayer. Take care not to live your life following Jesus by keeping a series of rules but, instead, realise the grace he has given you and the freedom to make choices that honour his sacrifice for you. Remembering that you owe your life to him will help you live a motivated life to please him. Living this way will give you great joy and mean you grow to become more like him and less like your old selfish unhappy self.

Final advice

Final advice – take moments through the day to carry on the conversation with God. Doing this is to live a life of prayer, so keep talking.  God has spoken to us through his son Jesus, he shows us how to live through the Bible and he will always be with you by his Holy Spirit. Two very practical things you should do is to get a translation of the Bible in modern English (eg. New International Version or English Standard Version) and an empty notebook to begin your journal (questions, thoughts, answers/observations, prayers). Find yourself a local church and tell the leader there that you have begun this journey.

Useful information & guidance 

Read 21 Days for New Christians and look at The Connected Life which is in two short sessions.

Stuart Townend is a well-known Christian songwriter whose song list you may find helpful as you press onwards on your journey: