I had a chat with someone the other day about how they were doing spiritually. They told me that they were struggling. They went on to describe the struggle as not being able to read the Bible or pray regularly. Whenever they did manage to read or pray, it was an empty exercise, which made it harder to get back to the next time.

You may recognize this as an issue in your own spiritual life. It is not an uncommon struggle. The problem is one of focus and it has to do with what we set as the goal of our spiritual life. Biblically speaking, Bible reading, and prayer is not the goal, but a means to an end. The goal of the Christian life is a relationship with God. That should be what we aim for. Attending church services, prayer meetings, serving in ministries, reading the Bible, private prayer are all means to an end. They are not the goal and end in themselves.

When we make these things the goal of our Christian life, two things happen. We may become particularly good at these things which leads to pride and a “holier than thou” attitude because we look down on others. Jesus took most issue with the Pharisees because they were exceptionally good at keeping up with appearances. However, their hearts were far from God. They did not truly know God in a deeply relational way.

On the hand, we may struggle with these Christian practices which leads to discouragement and may cause us to lose interest, or worse still to give up. We look around us in despair at how others seem to be doing well, spiritually speaking.

Let me encourage you to focus on knowing God, in a relational way. This should become the goal of your Christian life! Not simply knowing about God but knowing Him relationally. Talk to Him about who He is – His nature, His character, and His heart. Delve into the grandeur of His will and purpose. Meditate on His works as revealed in His Word and His creation. Talk to God in a real and personal way through prayer. Participate in church gatherings and prayer meetings to express your love for Him. Read the Word and pray privately to enjoy fellowship with Him. Say with Paul in Philippians 3:8a, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” And set your heart on one purpose like Paul in Philippians 3:10 when he says, “that I may know him…” (Italics mine).

The greatest commandment in the Bible Jesus says in Matthew 2:37 is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind” (Italics mine). The emphasis is on our love for God, which refocuses the Christian life on a relationship with God.

Is it the focus and goal of your life?