We weren't created to live in fear of a heartless, dictative God.

We were created to have a friendly, co-operative relationship with Him.

He doesn't want people to endlessly walk around falling to their knees praising Him in case He is upset, nor praising Him as a ritual, although we should always be reverent of him.

He created this planet and us to come and spend time here. He wants us as friends. If we understood Him we would know that we have a friend in our creator, so much He gave up His only Son to the cross to be close to us. But we consistently misunderstand Him.

In Micah 5:3 He asks "What have I done to you, How have I burdened you?" and in verse 8 He tells us exactly what He wants from us - 'To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

This means be nice to each other! and carry Him in your heart every day. Put Him in every situation you find yourself in.

These are the two commandments Jesus said when the Pharisees asked Him "Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Of course they were hoping to trip Him up, but He replied; "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is this; Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

"When we believe in Him, we talk to him all the time - in words, silent prayers, mutterings and groans. Not because we Have to but because we want to. This is putting Him in our hearts.

It doesn't make us perfect, we don't have that in us. But it does bring us close to Him and Him close to us.

What a friend we have in Jesus. He came out from God and into the World to suffer and die just to bring us close to our Heavenly Father. What better friend is there?

This is how I understand my God.

Read for yourself, see what you think.