Abide in Christ Pt 3: Develop closeness with the Father

Romans 12:1-2                      1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Developing a close relationship with God is the greatest invitation of the Christian life—and also the most costly.  Paul writes in Romans 12:1–2 that we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Those are not casual words.  They imply a deep re-orientation of the heart, a turning from one way of living to another, and an ongoing pattern of surrender that touches every part of life.

Closeness to God is not easy

Paul has spent eleven chapters explaining God’s mercy—our sin, God’s grace, Christ’s sacrifice, and the power of the Spirit.  Then he says, “Therefore…”  As in: In light of everything God has done for you, here is what a proper response looks like.  And that proper response is not simply agreement or belief—it is relationship.  It is closeness.  And closeness with God always transforms.

But drawing close to God is not easy.  Even though God is near, and even though He welcomes us freely, relational closeness does not happen without intention.  Paul urges us to present ourselves—our whole selves—to God (Romans 12:1).  That word urge is strong; it pictures an apostle pleading with believers to step into something costly and beautiful.

Closeness requires effort; specifically it requires effort in three areas.

First, we must be vulnerable.  To be a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) means laying down defenses.  You cannot hide on an altar.  You cannot pretend.  God invites honest confession like in Psalm 139:23.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.”

A close relationship with God grows only where there is truthfulness about who we really are.

Second, we must be consistent.  Relationships grow through time, not intensity.  A burst of spiritual emotion does not equal closeness; daily presence does.  Jesus modeled this by withdrawing often to pray (Luke 5:16).  Closeness requires repeated returning, and this is what is difficult.  We get caught up in our everyday lives and forget to give attention to God.

Third, we must re-orient ourselves.  A “living sacrifice” is not a one-time commitment but a daily offering.  Jesus said in Luke 9:23,

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily.”

Daily surrender is difficult—but it is the path to depth.  If closeness to God feels hard, that does not mean you are doing something wrong.  It means you are alive and growing.  Spiritual intimacy requires endurance just like physical training does.  Instead of being discouraged by difficulty, let it remind you that closeness with God is a real relationship—not a concept—and real relationships require effort, time, and heart.  And don’t measure closeness by how you feel this week.  Measure it by whether you keep showing up.  God honors the slow, steady movement of a heart that continues to turn toward Him.

It requires turning away from your normal path

Paul writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2).  That assumes something: the “pattern” of the world is not neutral.  It is shaping us every day unless we intentionally resist it.  Closeness with God requires a turning—an actual movement away from the usual flow of our thoughts, habits, and cultural rhythms.  The world has one way of doing things and God has another.  The world says, “Trust yourself.  Follow your desires.  Satisfy your cravings.  Define your own truth.”  But Scripture says in Proverbs 14:12:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Normal life—as the world defines normal—will not bring you closer to God.  God’s way is different.  Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate.” (Matthew 7:13)  The narrow path is not a path of self-fulfillment, but self-yielding.  It means turning away from distractions, noise, and self-reliance so that you may hear His voice more clearly.

And developing a close relationship with God requires separation.  You cannot be formed by both the world and God at the same time.  Something will win your loyalty.  When Paul uses the word conform it is in the passive tense—it happens to you.  His word transform is active—it is something God does in you as you turn from the old path.

Ask yourself: What patterns are shaping me without my permission?  Is it worry?  Social media?  Work obsession?  Self-criticism?  The approval of others?  Closeness with God grows when you identify the patterns that quietly pull you away and intentionally replace them with practices that lead you toward Him—Scripture meditation, quiet prayer, worship, and obedience.  Do not be afraid to break from your “normal.”  Sometimes God calls you away from what everyone else considers reasonable in order to draw you toward what He considers holy.

It means choosing deep communion over daily routine

Paul says we are to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).  Renewal is not mechanical—it is relational.  You become renewed because God reshapes your inner world as you abide in Him.  And this means communion, not routine.  It is not uncommon for believers to do all the right things but have no personal relationship with God.  Routine is doing Christian activities—reading, praying, attending worship—without opening the heart.  These are all good things, but routine without communion produces dryness.  On the other hand communion is when the Spirit actually stirs your affections, redirects your thinking, convicts your heart, comforts your grief, and anchors your hope.  Communion is when the words of Jesus become life to you:

“Abide in me… for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)

Communion is when you respond.  When your mind is renewed, everything shifts:  You begin to desire God’s will, you begin to see life through His eyes, you begin to experience peace that does not match your circumstances (Philippians 4:7), and you begin to understand His purposes rather than resisting them.

This is the fruit of communion: a slow, steady, Spirit-driven reorientation of your heart.  You may already have a daily routine with God—but is it communion or just rhythm?  Try this simple shift: before you read Scripture or pray, pause and say, “Lord, I’m here.  Speak to me.  Shape me.  I want communion, not just routine.”  That one small prayer opens the heart.  God delights in that kind of invitation.  He responds to humble hunger.  Also remember: communion does not require hours of time.  It requires attention.  You can walk in the Spirit through your workday, your commute, your errands, and your conversations.  Communion is not an event—it is a posture.

And that brings daily sustenance

The more you develop closeness with God, the more you notice a surprising effect: your soul becomes fed in ways that this world cannot replicate.  Paul says that through transformation you will be able to “test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2).  That means God leads you, steadies you, strengthens you, and nourishes you day by day.

When your mind is renewed, you begin to discern God’s will—not in a mystical sense, but in a relational one. You know His heart, and that shapes your decisions.  Through the Holy Spirit God guides and shapes our lives if we let Him.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

And nearness to God produces spiritual resilience:

“Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Closeness gives you strength for trials, calm in chaos, and perseverance when life feels heavy.

And here’s another thing:  Closeness bring joy, which, by the way, is not the same as happiness.  Joy is not the result of favorable circumstances; it is the result of proximity to God.  David writes,

“In Your presence is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11)

And finally nearness to God brings peace,  The world can offer momentary relief, but only God can offer sustained peace.  Jesus said:

“My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” (John 14:27)

If you feel spiritually empty, it is not a sign that God has abandoned you.  It is an invitation to draw closer.  Daily sustenance comes as you build daily connection.  Try praying this each morning:  “Father, sustain me today.  Renew my mind.  Feed my soul.  Let me walk closely with You.”  Then pay attention—perhaps at lunch, perhaps during a quiet moment, perhaps during a difficulty—because God will give you what you asked for.  He will sustain you in ways tailored to your needs.

What about me?

Romans 12:1–2 paints a picture of relationship, not religion.  Paul is not describing a checklist; he is describing a life turned toward God, offered to God, renewed by God, and sustained by God.  Closeness with Him is not easy—but it is possible.  It requires turning away from your normal path—but He gives you strength for that.  It means choosing communion instead of routine—but He meets you in that sacred space.  And it brings daily sustenance—because God always feeds the one who comes to Him hungry.

Developing a close relationship with God is not about perfection; it is about pursuit.  And you do not pursue Him alone—He is pursuing you as well.  May you hear His invitation today.  May you respond.  And may you discover the joy of walking closely with the God who loves you more than you can imagine.