From the moment you become a Christian, your sincere desire is to get closer to God. As a new believer, you start that journey by going to church on a regular basis, changing your circle of friends, and establishing a daily devotion time with God.
After your spiritual pilgrimage begins, it is not too long before the flesh and Satan attacks you, thus allowing you to yield to temptation, and sin raises its ugly head. You confess your sin and ask God to forgive you of your sin. 1 John 1:9 is a familiar verse throughout your life on earth. A Sunday School teacher asked a class of small children what the word “repentance” means. A little boy put up his hand and said, “It is being sorry for your sins.” A little girl also raised her hand and said, “It is being sorry enough to quit.” That little girl had some keen insight. When you do repent, you do say that you are sorry for the sin(s) that you committed. But just to say you are sorry is not enough. The biblical definition of repentance means to turn your back on sin and to focus on Christ. As you do this, you then live for Him.
Getting closer to God is the desire of every believer that is walking in the Spirit of God. How can you walk with God and not have to continually ask for forgiveness? Jesus answers that question in Luke 9:23, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” Every believer has a different cross to bear. Your cross is different from anyone else’s. No matter what your struggle is, Jesus says the way to keep from continually sinning and asking for repentance, is to keep your focus on Jesus.
Yes, going to church, having Christian friends, and a devotional life are essential to getting closer to God. But the real key is to die to yourself daily and wholly live for Christ!
