Mighty Monday - March 30, 2026

Religion or Relationship? The Difference Changes Everything

Someone asked me if I attended a church. After the conversation I recognized the question was about whether I had a religion. In hindsight, I wished I had talked less about my church and more about my relationship.

For me, the fact is I do not have a religion. I have a relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ.

In an earlier Mighty Monday, we defined religion as something external and communal. It is expressed through codes of conduct, church attendance, rituals, doctrines, and rules.

So, then what is relationship?

A relationship is a connection between you and someone else, built over time through interaction, expectations, roles, trust/safety, commitment, and boundaries.

That helps me to explain my relationship with God. In our relationship:

• I interact with the Lord through prayer, the Bible, and my fellowship with other believers

• As an expectation, God wants my love and I want His

• I am His daughter, a sister to Jesus and a vessel for His Holy Spirit

• I trust Him to provide and protect through trials in life; He trusts me to keep my eyes on Him through life's ups and downs

• He promises to always be with me, and I commit to surrender and submit to Him

• I have freedom of choice, and He desires my obedience as an expression my love

This relationship is possible because Jesus died, rose and ascended for me. Before He did, He prayed for me. In John 17:23, He prayed, “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."

God is in Jesus, and through Jesus, He is with me.

So, you can see, I am not in a religion. I am in a relationship.

Are you?

Reflection:

To the seeker: Would you like to explore a relationship with God through Jesus? If you decide yes, start here.

To the believer: How is your relationship going? What might need tending?

Prayer: Thank you, Dear Lord, for giving me a relationship with You through Jesus. It amazes me that in my imperfection, You see potential and you love me. As our relationship grows, may I learn more about You each day and draw closer to You.