What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?

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I was brought up traditional Catholic. Catholicism, for me, mostly meant that I am fighting a losing battle against god, because I am conceived a sinful person, no matter how hard I try will remain a sinful person, and therefore better be lucky enough to die in the state of grace so my wretched life may be potentially redeemed.

If a god so much wants me to be with him and wants a personal (and even loving) relationship with him, I don’t understand how it’s constantly about me “not being good enough”. I wouldn’t tell my girl she is not good enough, even if she exhibits (even blatant) faults. I love her regardless and won’t abandon her. Surely, god must be at least as good as that…

(And yes, I have heard "It’s not god throwing you into hell for your sins, it is your own willing to abandon god that does that; “the gates of hell are closed from the inside”, …but again all my fault…everything my fault…that is an abusive relationship in my books)

What does it mean to have a relationship with god?
 
Firstly it is capital G God.

Secondly we are all sinners, we all remain sinful people, Mary is the only human not to have been in any way sinful.
To die in a state of Grace, keep close to the sacrament of reconciliation, as we all do. Even Jesus said the only person who is good and perfect is God the Father in Heaven. What hope have we got then, if Jesus said this about Himself also.
God does not tell us we are not good enough. Your girlfriend expects you to conduct yourself in a certain way, and this is the same for God.
Would you girlfriend tolerate bad behaviour from you? That is different from tolerating your faults , or you hers. God tolerates our faults, but requires us to ask forgiveness for our bad behaviour
 
paspec said:
What does it mean to have a relationship with god?
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paspec, this was one of the themes of our homily today! (Australia is already well into Sunday.) Father spoke about the dialogic approach in our relationship with God Our Father of mercies with whom our dialogue begins and never ends. God is your Father in heaven and you can speak to him as you would any person. But knowing His love and mercy, you dialogue just as if He is there as you ask, seek and knock on His door.
 
I would start by caring about people’s pain more than about capitalization (pet peeve of mine)
 
You started by saying that I had to abide by the convention of capitalizing “God”. Why is that? Have you read my post?

Then, if I am not sorry about a sin that the Church labels a sin, how am I able to confess such a sin validly? Say, I willing missed going to church on Sunday. This is a mortal sin. So, if I am not sorry about it I will go to hell. My girlfriend can understand me if I prefer to stay home. God seemingly cant.
 
First of all, you were “good enough” for God to send His only son to die for you. He wouldn’t have done that if He didn’t love us all very much.

For me anyway, my personal relationship with God involves me loving Him and communicating with him not only in prayer but also just in thought throughout the day…knowing that He is my Father and is always there with me, and He loves me and wants the best for me. The “rules” that you don’t like are there for our happiness, health and safety. We aren’t perfect but we should WANT to follow His commands if we love Him. We should be sorry for our sins if for no other reason than they are offensive to God. Jesus didn’t die for our salvation just so that God could play “gotcha” and wait to pounce. It sounds a little like you may have scruples?
 
You have free will. But if you believe in and love God you should try your hardest to live a moral life. If you do slip up, God will forgive because he loves you. It is sounding like you think that you know what’s better for yourself more than God does.
 
My priest and his homily centered around listening - active vs passive. We need to actively listen to God to have that conversation with Him.
 
Do you have so little respect for Him that you cannot type God with a capital G?
 
My OP asked about what it means to have a relationship with god. Because I seriously don’t know what that means. I am agnostic, at least, and I find a lot of the Catholic stuff oppressive, if not outright abusive to a person’s mental health. At least, the Catholic stuff I have been told. Always open to learn. But I don’t know how I can have a relationship with an oppressor and abuser.
 
paspec said:
My OP asked about what it means to have a relationship with god. Because I seriously don’t know what that means.
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Gingersnaps4 said:
For me anyway, my personal relationship with God involves me loving Him and communicating with him not only in prayer but also just in thought throughout the day…knowing that He is my Father and is always there with me, and He loves me and wants the best for me.
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That’s what it means to me at least, in a nutshell.
 
paspec said:
It was a very one-sided conversation. It takes two to converse.
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I suspect I’m a lot older than you and our dialogue has gone on much longer. But like Sarah who prayed for a child, I thought my conversation was ignored until one day it wasn’t. Since that time, I don’t waste too much time remonstrating the timeless Father. He knows what we need and He delivers when we are ready.

I do understand your bitterness and impatience with Him, but don’t waste too much time with the business of repelling him with one hand as you grasp at falseness with the other. Make use of the Sacrament of confession and Eucharist at this time.
 
Well a true personal relationship with Jesus can only be found in the Church that He founded, the Catholic Church.

The Sacraments He instituted for us, especially the Eucharist (I will be with you always) and His teachings (Doctrine…if you love me you will obey my commandments).

Any other claim of a personal relationship with Jesus is really just someone seeking a personal Jesus.
 
I read a book called “Your god is Too Small.” It’s not about God at all, rather concepts people have that are gods. Not the same.
 
? So, I go to confession tomorrow and confess “Bless me Father for I have sinned, I have not been following the Catholic doctrine for years, in fact, I haven’t been to confession for years, and have done this and that, but I am only sorry for this 45% of it, because I don’t believe the rest is a sin”?
 
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