The Bible says that we are born again when we embrace Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. This new birth, on the other hand, indicates development. God does not want us to remain spiritual infants; the purpose is to become like him! Here are eight factors that may hinder our relationship with God!
Immorality
Sin and your connection with it are the primary impediments to spiritual development. You become a new creature the minute you accept Jesus into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because God erases everything, the old things are no longer there. As stated in Galatians 5:13, this dimension of mercy and love should not be used as an excuse to live in compromise. “Brothers, you have been called to liberty; nevertheless, do not use your liberty as an excuse to live according to the body.”
God wants you to walk in sanctification so that you may be like Him. You have the Holy Spirit, your body is His temple, and He cannot live in sin (1 Corinthians 6:19). As a result, it’s important to evaluate yourself since the recurrence of sin in your life is a genuine stumbling block. Is there a sin to which you are still clinging? If that’s the case, don’t take solace in it; instead, return to God through repentance.
Disobedience
Some of our choices and decisions need seeking God’s guidance. On the other hand, when this one responds negatively and issues warnings, we tend to go our own way, no longer distinguishing between what comes from the Spirit and what comes from the flesh.
On the other hand, impatience and disobedience divert us from God’s purposes, squander time, and slow us down.
Inability to forgive
“If you forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” the Bible says (Matthew 6:14). So, if you don’t forgive the person who has harmed you, it will obstruct your relationship with God and prevent doors from opening. Matthew 5:23 goes on to say:
“If you present your gift at the altar and realize that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go first reconcile with your brother; then come and deliver your sacrifice.”
In other words, even before praying to God, we are encouraged to seek forgiveness.
Customs and traditions
Traditions may also be a roadblock to your spiritual growth and progress with Jesus. Indeed, the Bible declares:
- “Rather of obeying mankind, we must follow God.” 5:29
- “Is it now the favor of men or the favor of God that I seek?” Is it because I want to satisfy men? “I would not be a servant of Christ if I still delighted mankind.” 1:10 Galatians.
God does not want us to go through a period of rebellion, as He urges us to obey the political authority in Romans 13:1-2, for example. However, it is up to us to exercise discernment to take a strong stance when certain ancestral rituals or customs seem to conflict with His Word.
Are you bound by men’s gaze and customs or by Christ’s commands and Word? It is impossible to serve both at the same time. These issues are common in churches, as men’s practices, beliefs, and doctrines override what the Bible teaches and suffocate the Truth. (“They worship me in vain by offering precepts that are human commands. You have disobeyed God’s word and followed man’s custom” (Mark 7: 8).
Unbelief and hardening of the heart
We may be disappointed by persons or circumstances and then turn around and blame God. “Why did He allow this to happen? “How come He hasn’t granted my wish?”… We’ve all asked ourselves a lot of questions.
We may then begin to grumble and hold a grudge against Him, believing that He would not console us or alter our circumstances. Our wounded hearts harden, and our trust fades, making it difficult for Him to carry out His intentions in our lives and preventing us from hearing His voice.
Idolatry and impatience
God has promised us peace, not a disaster (Jeremiah 29:11), and this applies to every aspect of our lives. Waiting for a promise may often lead to frustration and sighs: “Why are your promises taking so long to be fulfilled?” Whether it’s a question of job, housing, marriage, or anything else, remember that God’s timetable is perfect, not ours.
Place your desires in His hands and continue going with your gaze fixed on Him. But be cautious not to fall prey to idolatry, which is defined as placing anything before God. For example, if you’re waiting for your spouse or a job, you shouldn’t give these wants your entire focus since you’ll lose sight of what’s most essential. We must focus on the one who blesses rather than the benefit itself.
Always keep in mind that prayer is first and foremost a time of closeness with God. He isn’t a wish-granting machine!
Self-sufficiency
Pretending to think that you can manage your life without God is self-sufficiency. It’s one thing to accept Jesus as our Savior; it’s quite another to make Him Lord of our life. It is critical to learn to rely on Him.
God may sometimes put you through difficult circumstances to test your faith and see whether you view Him as the only answer to your difficulties.
Embarrassment of oneself
Not understanding our identity in Christ may cause us to underestimate ourselves. Stop comparing yourself to others by glancing to the left and right, scrutinizing what others have. Accept yourself as you were made by God and declare who you are. Keep in mind:
- Even before you were born, God was thinking about you (Jeremiah 1: 5)
- You are a one-of-a-kind creature created in his likeness (Genesis 1:27)
- You are a beautiful new creature because you have welcomed it into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and His goal is for us to become more like Him. Let us pay close attention to each of these brakes and avoid deviating from the Lord’s perfect will.
