What Makes God Real?

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KindredSoul

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That is, what makes God real to you? This is not a question about Apologetics or why you believe in God. Plain and simple, this is a question about your own relationship with God. Do you have anything you practice, or any thought process, that makes God more “real” to you? How do you, personally, take the idea of God and make it more than just an idea, or a guiding principle, but actually make yourself perceive Him as a real Person, just as real to you as your spouse, family, or friends? I have long heard it said that as Christians we must endeavor for Jesus/God to be our best Friend. This is surely easier the more “real” God is to you.

So I welcome all of your answers. Tell me about your personal rituals, or your thoughts, or whatsoever it may be that helps you to relate to God as more than just an idea, but as a True, Living Friend, Someone as real to you as if you could see Him–in non-sacramental form–before your very eyes. From the simple and obvious answers to the bizarre or far-fetched, so long as it’s compatible with Catholic orthodoxy, I’m interested in it all.

Thanks in advance!

Blessings in Christ,
KindredSoul
 
I talk to Him. You know how Tevye does his talking with God? His “Dear God,” monologues? It’s sorta like that. You talk to real people. And you listen, if they have something to say. Not that rote prayer is bad, or meditation. But I feel I can talk to God like most anyone else, too, as long as I remember to also give Him the dignity deserving Himself.

Seeing priests present Him in the Blessed Sacrament, and talking to Him when He’s in the Tabernacle also makes Him “real” to me. As does talking to Him throughout the day, and thinking often of Him.
 
  • Adoration
  • The Mass
  • Meditation (on God’s presence in the soul; the presence of Our Lord when two or more are gathered in His name; the Passion etc.)
Also, here is a practise (of Sr. Gertrude Mary - in her own words) that I would like to make greater use of:

“This is how I practise that life of familiarity, which seems to me one full of tenderness and love for Jesus. When I take holy water on waking, or on going to rest, on going into chapel, or on leaving my room (which I always do), I offer it to Jesus, and together we make the sign of the cross. When I open a door I wait for a moment, as if to allow someone to pass before me this is Jesus. If I go up or downstairs, I give way to an invisible Being Who accompanies me to Jesus. If I take a chair to sit down, I offer it first to the dear Companion of my life; to my most sweet Jesus. If I kneel down to pray I make room by my side for Jesus, Who always begins the prayer…”
 
God is as real as my thoughts. Since ‘he’ is the one complete, perfect, and over arching idea, even above my own idea of being, he is more real to me than my self.
 
Thanks everyone, for the replies so far!

I especially liked the quote from Sr. Gertrude Mary, littlestsouls. And Tarkan, I agree, we can and should talk to God as we would to anyone else, at least frequently.

I’ve had an ongoing conversation with a close friend of mine, and something he said has brought me to believe that it’s also a good practice to talk to God as though He doesn’t already know everything about you: Not only does the conversation come a bit more naturally–it feels sort of false and forced if you’re just rinsing and repeating topics that you feel the other person already knows all about–but a real part of knowing someone isn’t merely knowing about them, but having relationship with them. You might know all about what your beloved child is doing in his day, but really knowing him happens when he is the one to come to you and talk about it. It’s helpful to me to think of God that way: He may already know what I have to say, and nothing I could talk to Him about could possibly be “news” to Him…but it still delights Him to hear it from my lips, from my heart.

Thanks again, everyone, and by all means, if anyone has anything to add, please keep em’ coming!

Blessings in Christ,
KindredSoul
 
God is real to me, because by any reasonable math, I’ve been saved from so many long shots that it feels like a miracle I am still alive. Randomness simply cannot explain my life, and the “meaningful coincidences” that have been tickling me are so statistically significant it makes me feel like this whole world is made just for me.

Also God is real because when I most gave up in my life and totally surrendered, He picked me up and showed me the way, which ultimately lead to a healing condition that surprised my doctors. Being healed by the Lord is, IMO, better than not being sick in the first place! And the more I “let go” of my will, the more the Spirit guides me in ways I couldn’t have figured out even if I were super-smart!

MS
 
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