I took a deep breath and let go of the two small hands in each of mine.  I’m not ready.  I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to smile.  “Have a good day!” I said with forced cheerfulness. Lord, please let them have a good day.  

They called out hurried goodbyes, waved, and rushed forward into the crowd of students and teachers.  And then, they were out of my sight.  Out of my care.  Out of my control.  

Today I found something unexpected in my son's room.

I picked up the white sheet of copy paper from his nightstand.  I thought it might have a sketch or a scribble on the opposite side that was refrigerator-worthy, so I casually flipped it over to check.  What I saw stopped me in my tracks.  Typed in a single line across the top of the page were six words I’ll never forget.

Justin Martyr was a second-century theologian and defender of the faith who wrote two Apologies and Dialogue with Trypho, but most importantly, he knew how to start a conversation about Jesus.  

“Lord, I want to be closer to you.  Please help me grow closer to you.” 

My son’s whispered words were desperate as he pled for spiritual growth.   At the young age of ten, he hungers for a more meaningful relationship with his heavenly Father.

Does his prayer sound familiar to you? Maybe you have also prayed this in the past or are praying it. Perhaps you are wondering how to get past the unsatisfying, surface-level relationship and develop a deep, intimate connection with God. If so, here are some ways you can begin to shift religion into relationship.