“Let the one who is thirsty come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.” (Rev 22:17)
In her book Forming Intentional Disciples, Sherry Weddell compares the last threshold to intentional discipleship to “dating with a purpose.” When you know that a personal relationship with God is possible and you are exploring that possibility for yourself, it’s like serious dating that can lead to marriage. Is this person the one for me? Is this the one who loves me, the one I can give my life to? Is this the one I love and want to spend my life with? Is this relationship what I need?
This quest for a new relationship with Jesus will take you far beyond whatever prayer life you have now. It will change your approach to everything and everyone in your life. Even your attitude toward yourself.
Answering God’s call to drop your nets begins by not holding them so tightly and visualizing letting go of what you control. Pretty scary until you realize that Jesus can be trusted with everything in your life. When you give your life to him, boat, net and anchor, he commissions you as steward of your gifts and talents, possessions and relationships.
Look for committed Christians you can befriend and see how they manage their lives. Don’t look for perfection, but the loving service they enjoy giving others, you included. You can trust them with the questions burning in your heart about what a deep friendship with Jesus looks like.
How does it change the way they spend their time, their money, their leisure? What spiritual practices work for them and their families? Mass and Sunday dinner together? Rosary? Adoration? Singing praise songs in the carpool? Neighborhood Bible studies? Vacationing with other families who love Jesus? Frequent confession?
They struggle with the same issues you do. Don’t be afraid to ask them to share their triumphs and failures. Ask them how they developed their relationship with Jesus. You may hear some initially depressing stories that end victoriously as Jesus rescues them and brings them into his kingdom. When their needs could only be met by him, he proved his unconditional love. You can trust him to do the same for you.
They are praying for you along your journey. Try out some of the practices you see working for others. Consistent Mass and personal prayer time are the basic two spiritual practices to help you in your mission. There are as many ways to relate to God as there are people.
Like any decision to further a relationship, it’s ultimately between you and that person. For this relationship to blossom into a permanent arrangement you have to get alone with that person and sort out your passions and misgivings, good intentions and hopes. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. Ask this companion-presence, who is with you always, for the courage to take the next step.
God gave you free will and will not violate that gift. He will love you whether or not you commit your life to him right now. He will give you future chances to accept his overwhelming love if you are not quite ready. But every day he will pursue you because he created you to love him and live with him forever. Every day is another day to live in a close relationship with the source of life.
He’s already popped the question and waits for your answer. End the dating game and get on with the purpose of your life: intimacy with him.
What’s the next thing you need to do to make a decision to follow Jesus?
Copyright © 2013, Nancy H C Ward
Nancy Ward
Nancy HC Ward, author of Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story, was once a shy convert. She has spent decades writing about conversion, Christian community, and the Catholic faith. After earning a journalism degree, she worked for many years for the Texas Catholic (newspaper of the Diocese of Dallas) and the Archbishop Sheen Center for Evangelization, and later began her own editing service. An active member of the Catholic Writers Guild and a regular contributor to a number of high-profile Catholic publications online, she also has a busy blog on spirituality called Joy Alive.net. She’s a contributing author to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Now, through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story workshops, retreats, book, and DVD, she shares her conversion story at Catholic parishes and conferences, equipping others to share their own stories.
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