I believe in a very real, very personal God.
A God that I can feel moving deep within my spirit. A loving Father who not only blesses me with good things and the promise of eternal life, but also cares enough to correct me as I need it.
When I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and come dwell within me, I could feel Him washing me clean. When in prayer, as I learn to shut my mouth and listen, He whispers His desires as well as His love in ways that I can clearly understand.
He talks, corrects and guides, all through the wonderful love letter called the Holy Bible.
One can sense His Holy Spirit's conviction when we sin, and can feel the leading He gives.
He gave His Son for me. I have been purchased with a precious price: the blood of God's only Son.
I belong to Him, so that I can indeed call Him my Father, my Savior, my Master, my deliverer, my redeemer, my God.
Paul, in writing to the church in Philippi, said these words (Philippians 4:19): "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
He said "My God." Time and again, the Bible refers to the promises of God, and the announcement by Him that "I will be their God."
That is a personal God who desires to be able to walk with, talk to, and bless His creation.
In Jeremiah's writings come a damning observation concerning the state of Israel and Judah. This statement tells what the full problem was with the nations and why they were headed to judgment.
God did not mention the rampant perversion — not even a mention of the drunken parties, or anything else that church leaders rightly vilified.
Chapter 7, verses 23 and 24 state, "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
"But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."
His condemnation was based on the fact that He reached out, and no one would listen any more.
Is this not the real truth behind America's moral decay? We no longer seek Him, nor do we stand and defend His principles and directives. This personal God is being shoved out of our lives.
Today, we too are guilty of not paying proper attention to Him or His Word.
Please, seek Him while He may be found. He will receive you with open arms, and once again be your very personal heavenly Father.
The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Listen to a personal God, or suffer punishment