Good morning, friends.

Today I want to talk about something that’s easy to overlook, but absolutely central to faith: having a real, personal relationship with God. Not a distant, formal arrangement. Not just a set of rules or rituals. I mean an actual connection—a friendship, a back-and-forth, a living, breathing relationship with the One who made us.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “Sure, Father, but what does that actually mean? And how do I get there?”

Let’s start here: You don’t need to belong to any particular religion or walk into a church building to talk to God. You don’t need special words, or a certain uniform, or a list of credentials. You can pray in your living room, in your car, on your lunch break, or lying awake at night. God is not limited by walls, or rituals, or human categories. He is always present—right where you are, right now.

Some of the most powerful moments of prayer I’ve ever had didn’t happen at an altar or in a sanctuary. They happened washing dishes, or taking a walk, or sitting quietly in my own room, just talking to God like you’d talk to a friend. Sometimes with words. Sometimes with silence. Sometimes with tears.

God is always with us. That’s not just a comforting line—it’s a truth that can change everything. Psalm 139 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” There’s nowhere you can go where God won’t meet you. He’s already there, waiting for the conversation.

And here’s the thing: God actually wants a relationship with you. Not just with “good people,” or “religious people,” but with you, exactly as you are. He’s not waiting for you to get your act together. He’s not keeping score, or waiting for you to memorize the right prayers. He wants to know you—your joys, your struggles, your questions, your doubts. All of it.

Sometimes people treat the Bible like it’s just a rulebook, or a list of impossible standards. But what if we saw the Bible as a reference manual for relationship instead? A collection of stories, letters, and wisdom from people who wrestled with the same stuff we do: fear, hope, failure, longing, love. People who argued with God, bargained with Him, ran from Him, and then found themselves drawn back again and again. The Bible doesn’t shy away from real life. It’s full of messy, complicated people trying to figure out what it means to walk with God. And in those pages, we find reminders and guidance for our own journey.

Some of us grew up thinking God was far away—some distant, cosmic judge, only interested if we followed the right rituals or signed our name on the right membership list. But the truth is, your relationship with God has always been there. Whether you feel it or not, whether you believe it or not, God has always been reaching out to you. That’s what grace is: God’s love and presence, offered freely, before we ever ask.

You might not realize it, but every longing for meaning, every moment of wonder or gratitude, every act of kindness you feel pulled towards—those are signs of God stirring in your life. Sometimes faith is loud and certain. Sometimes it’s just a quiet hope, a question, or even a frustration. But God isn’t scared off by our doubts or our silence. He meets us right in the middle of our real lives.

Now, I’m not saying church isn’t important. Gathering together, worshipping as a community, learning from one another—those are beautiful and powerful ways to grow. But church is not the only place you can find God. Your kitchen table can be an altar. Your morning commute can be a sanctuary. Your heart—wherever it is right now—is holy ground.

Maybe you’ve gone through seasons where faith felt out of reach. Maybe life got busy, or hard, or just confusing. Maybe you’ve been told you don’t really belong because you don’t fit a certain mold. If that’s you, hear this: there is no expiration date on God’s invitation. The relationship is still open. It’s never too late to start the conversation again. Just talk to Him, in your own words, in your own way.

And if you’re someone who’s never really believed—if you’re skeptical, or just not sure—you’re not disqualified. God isn’t waiting for you to check all the boxes. He’s already present in your life, quietly weaving your story with His love. Sometimes, the first step in any relationship is just to be open to the possibility. To say, “God, if you’re there, I’m listening.” Sometimes that’s enough to begin.

Relationships take time. They take honesty. They take showing up, even when you don’t have all the answers. That’s true with people, and it’s true with God. The more you make space for God in your ordinary life—the more you talk, listen, question, and notice—the more you’ll start to sense His presence. It’s not always dramatic or obvious. Sometimes it’s just a quiet peace, a sense of being seen, a moment of unexpected gratitude.

We live in a world that tries to measure worth by what you accomplish, or who you know, or how you look. But God’s relationship with you isn’t based on any of that. You don’t have to prove yourself. You don’t have to hide your flaws. You are loved, right now, exactly as you are. Not after you fix yourself, not after you become “more religious,” but now.

So, how do you grow in this relationship? Just start where you are. Maybe read a few verses of scripture and let them sink in. Maybe take a walk and talk to God about what’s on your mind. Maybe sit quietly and just notice the way your heart feels. Maybe write down your questions, your hopes, your frustrations. There’s no formula, no one right way. The important thing is to show up, to be honest, and to trust that God is already there, ready to meet you.

And remember: this relationship isn’t about never making mistakes. It’s about growing, learning, and returning—again and again—to the One who loves you without limits.

Let’s not put God in a box. Let’s not limit our relationship with Him to buildings, rituals, or labels. Let’s remember that God is bigger than all of that. He’s as close as your next breath. He’s as patient as the sunrise. He’s as steady as the ground beneath your feet.

Your relationship with God is yours. It’s unique. It’s ongoing. And it’s worth everything.

So wherever you find yourself today—full of faith, full of doubt, somewhere in between—know this: God is with you. He wants to walk with you, to know you, to love you. All you have to do is turn, and begin the conversation.

Let’s pray.

God, thank you for being present with us, wherever we are, whoever we are. Help us to see you, not just in special places or special moments, but in the ordinary parts of our lives. Teach us to trust your love, even when we don’t feel it. Draw us into deeper relationship—not because we’ve earned it, but because you offer it freely. Amen.