Developing an ongoing relationship with God requires daily surrender and intentional communication. God is already present in your life, but you may not feel Him if you are not doing your part. Your relationship with God is like a relationship with your earthly, best friend. If you call your friend once a week, you stay connected, but your relationship may not grow. If you call your friend every day, you begin to learn the little things about each other and your lives become intertwined and you become invested in each other. Furthermore, when friendships grow and develop during the peaks of life, the friendship is more likely to be able to withstand the valleys. In other words, when two people grow closer to each other during the good times of life, they know more about each other and how to handle a situation together when faced with a storm.

Our relationship with God is the exact same. In order to feel the return investment on a relationship with God, it requires us to do our part. It's okay to go to God in a storm, even if we haven't been very faithful. Sometimes it takes a storm to bring us to God. However, when we learn to thank God daily for the blessings in our lives, it better equips us for handling the storms of life when we need to be vulnerable in our relationship with God. Praising God during the good times of our lives helps us build a stronger foundation for the uncertain times when our relationship may be tested. When fear sinks in and trust is questioned, we are already knowledgeable of God's promises and love. God knows what's on your heart, but He wants to hear it from you.

It is important that you do part in your relationship with God. Here are some simple ways to connect with God on a daily basis:

1. Find somewhere quiet every day to say a prayer and talk to Him throughout the day. Spend time talking with Him every day just like you would a friend. Be real with Him. If you don’t understand something, it is okay to say God I don’t understand, I’m angry, I’m sad, etc.

2. Read the bible and analyze scripture. Instead of focusing on reading a large quantity each day, read less and analyze the meaning more.

3. Praise God and focus on your blessings.

4. Surround yourself with the right people. It makes a difference.

5. Be more like Jesus practicing patience and kindness. Making a mindful effort to live like Christ really changes our mindset and attitude. When you strive to be a light in the world, it changes you.

6. Listen to music and podcasts that focuses on faith.