THE HEART OF FAITH

The heart of Christian spirituality isn’t about rules or rituals—it’s about relationship. It’s not about checking off a list of things you’re supposed to do because someone told you to. It’s about something real, something alive, something personal. Think about someone in your life you’re really close to—someone you trust completely, someone you can talk to about anything, someone whose presence you feel even when they’re not in the room. That’s the kind of relationship God wants with us. It’s not about just knowing about Him; it’s about knowing Him.

And that’s what Jesus said eternal life actually is. Not just living forever, but knowing God. In John 17:3, He prayed, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." The Greek word for “know” there is ginōskō (γινώσκω), and it’s not just head knowledge—it’s deep, experiential, intimate knowing. It’s the same word used to describe how a husband and wife know each other. That’s the kind of closeness we’re meant to have with God.

But relationships don’t just grow by accident. They take time, intentionality, and effort. One of the ways we cultivate this closeness with God is through prayer. But prayer isn’t some rigid, formal thing—it’s simply talking to Him, honestly and openly. You don’t need fancy words. You don’t have to get everything right. You just talk. Pour out your thoughts, your fears, your struggles, your gratitude. And it’s not just about talking—it’s about listening, too.

God speaks. Maybe not in an audible voice, but He speaks through His Word, through circumstances, through that deep sense in your spirit. In Jeremiah 33:3, He says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” He’s a God who desires communication. The more time you spend with Him, the more you begin to recognize His voice.

And that’s why the Bible is so central to our relationship with Him. It’s not just a book full of old stories—it’s alive. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword.” The word used there for “word” is logos (λόγος), meaning God’s spoken truth, His wisdom, His very mind revealed to us. When you spend time in His Word, you start to see the world differently. You start to see yourself differently. The more you read, the more your heart begins to align with His.

And that’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. He’s not just some distant force—He’s personal. He lives inside of you, guiding, comforting, correcting, reminding you of truth when you need it most. In John 14:26, Jesus says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” That word “Helper” is Paraklētos (Παράκλητος), meaning advocate, counselor, one who comes alongside to support. He’s always there, leading you closer to God.

And the closer you walk with Him, the more you start to reflect His character. It’s like when you spend so much time with someone that their way of thinking and speaking starts to rub off on you. That’s what happens when we spend time with God—His love, patience, and kindness begin to shape us. But that doesn’t mean we won’t stumble. There will be times when we mess up, when we take a wrong turn, when we fall flat on our faces. But the Spirit doesn’t leave. He doesn’t give up on us. He reminds us of God’s grace, picks us back up, and keeps leading us forward.

At the center of all of this is Jesus. He’s the one who shows us what it truly means to love, to serve, to live with humility. He didn’t just talk about love—He lived it. He touched the untouchable, forgave the unforgivable, and loved even those who rejected Him. And He didn’t just love in words—He loved in action, to the point of giving His very life.

And that’s what He calls us to do. Not just loving people who love us back, but loving when it’s hard, when it’s inconvenient, when it costs us something. The Greek word for this kind of love is agapē (ἀγάπη), the highest form of love—sacrificial, unconditional, unshakable. It’s the love that sent Jesus to the cross.

And that’s why forgiveness is such a big deal. It’s easy to hold onto hurt, to let resentment build up like a wall around your heart. But Jesus shows us another way. He forgave those who mocked Him, who beat Him, who nailed Him to a cross. And He calls us to do the same. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Forgiveness isn’t about excusing what happened—it’s about releasing the bitterness and choosing grace over revenge.

This life isn’t always easy. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you get a free pass from suffering. Jesus Himself said in John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” That’s where our hope is. No matter what happens here, no matter what pain or loss or struggle we walk through, this life isn’t the end of the story. There is something greater, something eternal, something beyond all of this. That hope is what carries us through. It’s what gives us the strength to keep going, to trust that even in the hardest moments, God is working, God is present, and God is in control.

And at the heart of it all, it comes back to love. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. That’s what everything else hinges on. And love isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. In 1 John 3:18, it says, “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” It’s choosing kindness when it would be easier to ignore. It’s offering grace when it would be easier to judge. It’s seeing people the way God sees them and treating them accordingly.

None of us will ever live this out perfectly. We’re going to fail, we’re going to struggle, we’re going to have days where we feel like we’re getting it all wrong. But God’s grace is bigger than our failures. He doesn’t expect perfection—He wants authenticity. He wants a heart that keeps coming back to Him, keeps leaning on Him, keeps growing in Him. And the more we walk with Him, the more His love flows through us. And that’s what this life is all about. Not just saying we believe in Him, but living in a way that shows we do.

 

 
I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

I found this image is the duckduckgo search for free pictures.