Intimacy With God
What Do You Think Of When You Hear The Word Intimacy?
A Romantic Fun Night Out On The Town?
A Romantic Dinner At Your Favorite Restaurant With That Special Someone?
Most people today would relate intimacy to a personal romantic relationship between a man and a woman. Our culture defines intimacy in terms of physical affection, or touching, when in reality intimacy can mean any number of things. A personal way of showing affection, a feeling of closeness or drawing near to someone dear to you. Like a friend, your spouse, or your child. It is nice to have someone to care about and to have care about you. But a person cannot truly know everything there is to know about you, and that person cannot meet all of your needs. The only One that really knows all about us is the One who made mankind in His Image and Likeness; that is Our Heavenly Father, God Our Creator. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. We were born with a deep-rooted desire for spiritual intimacy. God created us with the desire and need to be known, accepted and unconditionally loved. Only God can fill that void that lies deep within us. We may try many things to fill the emptiness we feel inside like food, exercise, relationships, but that can only lead to frustrations and we end up more and more unsatisfied. We try different activities, hobbies, projects, anything to keep us busy, but we find ourselves becoming more discontented.
Our need for intimacy must first be met by God our Creator in order for there to be true balance in our lives. Yes we need intimacy, but not the kind that the world gives. We need the kind that is fulfilling, and everlasting the kind that only God can give for He is our Everlasting God. It reminds me of a song that we sing in our church. (Song and lyrics below).
Strength Will Rise
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
As we wait upon the Lord, As we wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
As we wait upon the Lord, As we wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign for ever, Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God, The everlasting God, You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord...
I just love the words to this song.
Yes, Praise the Lord strength will rise as we wait upon Him, He truly is our strong deliverer, He is the defender of the weak, He comforts us when we are in need. Satan the enemy of this world hates God, and he does not want us to have a personal relationship with God. He would rather that we would keep our focus on worldly things and put God last in our life. We are only suppose to seek God when we are bored, hurting, or in need of something, or not to bother God at all because He is too busy. But God the Creator of all perseveres our hearts with pure love. He wants us to put Him first. He longs for us to have an intimate close relationship with Him. God is love, He proved His love by giving His Only Son to die on the Cross for us. He knows that His love transforms who we are into who we were created to be.
We are required to love the Lord. (Read the verses below.)
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the First Commandment (this is the type of "love" which the world doesn't have, and in fact, cannot have, which only a Believer can have, and which can only be given by the Lord).
Mark 12:30 (KJV Expositor's Study Bible)
"And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other Commandment greater than these (if we truly love God, we will as well, "love our neighbor"; this is the answer to all war, prejudice, hate, bias, racism, etc).
Mark 12:31 (KJV Expositor's Study Bible)
We love Him, because He first loved us. (The first initiation of Love was on the part of God, and not us, as was necessary.)
I John 4:19
God demonstrated how much He loves us with Jesus becoming the Mediator of a Better Covenant for us which is explained in Hebrews.
"But now (since the Cross) has He (the Lord Jesus) obtained a more excellent Ministry (the New Covenant in Jesus' Blood is superior, and takes the place of the Old Covenant in animal blood), by how much also He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant (proclaims the fact that Christ officiates between God and man according to the arrangements of the New Covenant), which was established upon better promises. (This presents the New Covenant, explicitly based on the cleansing and forgiveness of all sin, which the Old Covenant could not do.)
Hebrews 8:6 (KJV Expositor's Study Bible)
(Jesus) - that Great Shepherd of the sheep (presents the One Who died for us, and Whom God raised from the dead), through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant (points to the Cross and proclaims the fact that the Covenant, being perfect, is Eternal),.
Hebrews 13:20 (KJV Expositor's Study Bible)(Latter part of verse)
Jesus came to do the will of His Father:
Then said He, Lo, I come to do Your Will, O God. (The doing of the Will of God, as it regards Christ, pertained totally and completely to His Sacrifice of Himself on the Cross.) He takes away the First (the old Covenant, which He did by the Sacrifice of Himself), that He may establish the Second (the New Covenant which He did by going to the Cross, the only way it could be established).
Hebrews 10:9 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
By the which will (the Sacrifice of Christ took away the First Covenant, satisfying its demands, and established the New Covenant) we are Sanctified through the Offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all. (This proclaims unequivocally that the only way the Believer can live a victorious life is by the Cross ever being the Object of his Faith.)
Hebrews 10:10 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
For God so loved the world (presents the God kind of love), that He gave His Only Begotten Son (gave Him up to the Cross, for that’s what it took to redeem humanity), that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.
John 3:16 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world (means that the object of Christ’s Mission was to save, but the issue to those who reject Him must and can only be condemnation); but that the world through Him might be saved (Jesus Christ is the only Salvation for the world; there is no other! as well, He is Salvation only through the Cross; consequently, the Cross must ever be the object of our Faith).
John 3:17 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
He who believes on Him is not condemned (is not condemned to be eternally lost in the Lake of Fire forever and forever [Rev. 20:11-15]): but he who believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God (all of this refers to Christ and what He did at the Cross in order to redeem humanity; Salvation is never by works, but rather by Grace through Faith, with the Cross ever the object of that Faith).
John 3:18 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
The Garden of Eden
And the LORD God planted a Garden eastward in Eden it was actually planted before Adam was created; the area is believed by some scholars to be the site where the city of Babylon would ultimately be built); and there He put the man whom He had formed (the Garden of Eden was to be the home place of man).
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight (beautiful trees), and good for food (every fruit tree imaginable, even those which bear nuts); the Tree of Life also in the midst of the Garden (evidently contained a type of fruit; 3:22 says as much! the Tree of Life had the power of so renewing man’s physical energies that his body, though formed of the dust of the ground and, therefore, naturally mortal, would, by its continual use, live on forever; Christ is now to us the ”Tree of Life” [Rev2:7; 22:2]; and the “Bread of Life” [Jn. 6:48, 51), and the Tree of Knowledge of good and Evil (presents the tree of death).
Genesis 2: 8-9 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the Garden you may freely eat (as stated, before the Fall, man was vegetarian):
But of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, you shall not eat of it (as for the “evil,” that was obvious; however, it is the “good on this tree that deceives much of the world; the “good” speaks of religion; the definition of religion pertains to a system devised by men in order to bring about Salvation, to reach God, or to better oneself in some way; because it is devised by man, it is unacceptable to God; God’s answer to the dilemma of the human race is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” [I Cor. 1:23]): for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die (speaks of spiritual death, which is separation from God; let it be understood that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil not the cause of Adam’s Fall; it was a failure to heed and obey the Word of God, which is the cause of every single failure; spiritual death ultimately brought on physical death, and has, in fact filled the world with death, all because of the Fall).
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:15-18 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
The Creation of Woman
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept (records the first anesthesia): and He took one of his ribs (the word “rib” here actually means “side”), and closed up the flesh instead thereof (the woman is not merely of a rib, but actually of one side of man);
And the rib (side), which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman (the Hebrew says, “built He a woman”; Horton says, “When God created the man, the word ‘form’ was used, which is the same word used of a potter forming a clay jar; but the word “build” here seems to mean God paid even more attention to the creation of the woman”), and brought her unto the man (presents a formed presentation, with God, in essence, performing the first wedding; thus He instituted the bonds of the Marriage Covenant, which is actually called the Covenant of God [Prov. 2:17], indicating that God is the Author of this sacred institution; this is the marriage model, and was instituted by God; any other model, such as the homosexual marriages, so=called, can be constituted as none other than an abomination in the Eyes of God [Rom. 1:24-28]).
Genesis 2:21-22 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
The First Marriage Union
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh (that is, she is man’s counterpart, not merely in feeling and sense --- his flesh --- but in his solid qualities): she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (God did not take the woman out of man’s feet to be stepped on as an inferior; nor out of his head to be put on a pedestal as a superior; but from his side, close to his heart as an equal).
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife (this Passage must be viewed as an inspired declaration of the law of marriage): and they shall be one flesh (points to a unity of persons, not simply to a conjunction of bodies, or a community of interest, or even reciprocity of affection):
Genesis 2:23-24 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
The State of Innocence
And they were both naked (refers to an absence of clothing, at least as we understand such; they were actually enswathed I ethereal and transfiguring light), the man and his wife, and were not ashamed (were not ashamed, because there was nothing of which to be ashamed).
Genesis 2:25 (KJV Expositor’s Study Bible)
I looked up the words enswathed and ethereal and they mean:
En-swathed – is to wrap or bind; to enfold or enclose with a covering.
Ethereal - very light; airy or delicate; not earthly; heavenly; celestial. In heaven – assembling
heaven – seeming to belong to another world. Windows give the Church an ethereal glow.
Celestial –of or in the sky or universe – of heaven divine of the finest kind.
Transfiguring light – to transform so as to exalt or glorify.
Adam and Eve - The First Sin
Their close fellowship with God was irrevocably broken, and their eyes were opened (refers to the consciousness of guilt as a result of their sin). And they knew that they were naked (refers to the fact that they had lost the enswathing light of purity, which previously had clothed their bodies): and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day – and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden (the beginning of a guilty conscience is now opened for the first time).
As the Lord God called unto Adam, and saying, Where are you? And he (Adam) said I heard your Voice in the Garden, and I was afraid. (See at one time) – (hearing the “Voice” of the Lord had once been a welcome sound; but it is now a dreaded sound, because of their sin; it is not that the Voice of the Lord had changed, for it hadn’t; it was the same Voice that they had heard since creation; He hadn’t changed, but they had): and now Adam is afraid – (fear is the first reaction of fallen man; Adam’s consciousness of the effects of sin was keener than his sense of the sin itself), because I was naked; and I hid myself (he was naked to the judgment of God, because of sin, which must be judged; he tried to hide himself from God, even as untold millions have, but never with any success; God wanted Adam to know that he who hides himself from him is never hidden from him, and that he who runs away from Him can never escape Him).
Genesis 3: 7-10
In
the beginning Adam and Eve enjoyed a very special, deep, intimate relationship
with God
and each other. “The man and his wife were both naked and and were not ashamed”
(Genesis 2:25). Their nakedness symbolized their freedom and confidence in God’s love for
them and their acceptance of trust in each other. But after the tragic intrusion of Satanand his deception, Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord.
Sadly, because of their sin the oneness that they once
shared with God was irrevocably
broken. As
it was in the beginning, so it is now.
Many of us can find ourselves still wanting
to hide from
God, yet also wanting to answer Him when He calls, ”Where are you?” Despite
our fear and shame, we sense our need not only for reconciliation, but for restoration to that
original intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. For there is within each of us a
longing for love and intimacy that only He can fulfill. But God gave the most precious gift
of His Son to take our sin upon Himself on the Cross so that we might be reconciled to our
Father. When we accept Him, He clothes us in His righteousness so that we can draw near
with confidence to the throne of grace. If you would stop and meditate . . . just for a
moment
. . . reflecting on what Jesus willingly did for us . . . is truly a remarkable act of love
beyond measure of
any love ever given for another.
While I was in prayer I was asking my Lord how I can deepen my relationship with you. I know there has to be more, and God laid upon my heart to have more intimacy with Him. So I started researching information on having intimacy with my Lord. Then at church during our Wednesday night bible study our pastor said that God wants to use His people to minister to one another then he said “Get a book and do a Bible Study in your home or etc. I began looking at studies on having intimacy with God, and I found this book titled “Intimacy with God” by Author Cynthia Herald, in studying the psalms of students from The Treasury of David. Charles H. Spurgeon, who wrote and edited this rich commentary on the psalms.
Thank you Lord,
Sonja Miller
Here are a few things Cynthia shares from her book about the palmists:
In their honesty, vulnerability, and revelations of the heart, the psalmists demonstrate to us how to relate to God intimately. Studying and meditating on the Psalms will give us courage to open our hearts to our Creator as we realize His great desire for us. How much the psalmist have taught me about relating to and being intimate with God. My heart is humbled deep within me, for I have realized how shallow my concept of walking with God has been. Still, I am encouraged, for the psalmists have shown me not only their heart’s response in all situations, but they have also meaningfully testified to God’s heart in faithfully relating to them. Because of this study, I am motivated to spend the rest of my life pursuing deeper intimacy with God.
Love in Christ,
Cynthia Herald
Church of God
Family Worship Center
5841 East H Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
L.O. V. E. MINISTRIES started our meetings on April 14, 2014;
we met on the first and third Tuesday of each month, at 3:00 pm afternoon in the Hospitality Room.
NEW TIME & DATE: STARTING SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 t0 Present 2021.
Meeting's are now weekly on Tuesday's at 2:00 p.m.
I hope you have enjoyed some of the new studies we have been sharing last year on, "Intimacy with God." by
Cynthia Herald, "Healing For The Empty Heart," By Marion Duckworth, "How's Your Prayer Life," By
Sonja Miller, "The Power of A Praying Woman," By Stormie Omartian, "Battlefield of the Mind," By Joyce
Meyer, "Fruit of the Spirit" CD series plus Study Guide by Joyce Meyer, "If not for the Grace of God" By
Joyce Meyer, just to mention a few, along with our great bible/women's discussions. As always, this is a
Bible Oriented Encouragement, Prayer and Healing Ministry for Overcoming Women. All Women are
Welcome. Thank you and God Bless You Beautiful Women of God.
Contact Sonja Miller at 269-203-7676 for more information.
More Articles on Intimacy with God
Intimacy with God - I
By Charles F. Stanley
Helping us stay “connected” has become big business in our culture. Smart phones, Face book, and Twitter give us instant access to friends, family, work, and the world. But how much time do we actually spend building meaningful face-to-face relationships? And let’s go one step further—how much effort do we invest in connecting with God?
What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord? Is He a distant Deity or your closest friend? In one way or another, everyone has an association with Him, whether it’s acknowledged or not. Even those who say they don’t believe in God are bound to Him simply because He created them. Sadly, the majority of people in this world have no idea who their Creator is.
Created for Intimacy with God
Yet the Lord designed mankind to relate to Him. That’s what it means to be made in His image (Gen. 1:26). We’ve been given a spirit that can communicate with His Spirit. Just look at the earth and the heavens above. Although God is the Creator of all these things, He can never interact with a mountain or a star as He does with you. There is no higher honor that He could have given us than to be made in His image.
But when sin entered the human race, it rendered everyone spiritually dead and thereby alienated from God. Our spirits were no longer able to unite with the Lord in close communion. However, Jesus came to pay the penalty for sin with His death, and now all who trust Him as their Savior are spiritually reborn. Their connection with God has been reopened through Christ (Eph. 2:1-5).
Yet God doesn’t want our interactions with Him to end at salvation; that’s where they begin. If we communicate with Him only on a surface level, we cheat ourselves and hinder fulfillment of the Lord’s ultimate goal for us—an intimate relationship with Him. Though this is His desire for each of His children, many believers, unfortunately, do not live in the close fellowship that He’s made available to them.
Believers can be saved and eternally secure yet relationally distant from the Lord. Some Christians show little interest in spiritual things and are unaware of the shallowness of their interactions with God. Others are confused and frustrated, wondering why they don’t hear His voice or feel His presence. Even though they attend church, read their Bibles, and pray, He still seems to be far away and disconnected from them.
In the last few years, the term “intimacy with God” has become one of those phrases that Christians toss about in their conversations, but how many of us actually know what it means? If I asked you to describe it, could you? Part of the problem is that in our culture, the word intimacy has become synonymous with sex. But we’re talking about a spiritual oneness that is not based on the physical senses. God is spirit (John 4:24), and that is how we must relate to Him.
Understanding Intimacy with God
To help us comprehend what
closeness with the Lord looks like, let’s examine the writings of David, whom
the Bible calls a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Psalm 63:1-8 gives a vivid description of His
consuming passion for His Lord.
Yearning for God. The most obvious element in this Psalm is a thirsting and yearning for the Lord (v. 1). Every other pursuit in life seems like a dry desert when compared to the fulfillment of an intimate relationship with God. Our souls and spirits will never experience satisfaction until we discover the joy of devotion to the only One who can fill our emptiness (v. 5). David’s passion even had a physical element to it: “my flesh yearns for You” (v. 1). At times, those who have a particularly close connection with the Lord experience an aching for more of Him.
Awakened Spiritual Senses. The second aspect of David’s deep association with God is his ability to see Him (v. 2). One of the results of such closeness is the awakening of our spiritual senses. In learning to know Him more deeply, we “see” the One who is unseen. Our understanding of His nature and ways increases dramatically, the Scriptures come alive with meaning, and a new sense of discernment guards our minds. Along with this spiritual sensitivity comes the distinct knowledge that it’s all from the Lord and not from ourselves.
New Values and Priorities. Soon our relationship with God becomes the best thing in our lives and takes precedence over everything else (vv. 3-4). No other pursuit is more valuable. All the possessions, power, pleasures, and prestige this world offers are empty after experiencing the fullness of knowing the Lord.
Satisfaction and Fulfillment. He captures our thoughts and emotions (v. 5-6). Do you remember what it feels like to be in love? No one had to tell you to think about your loved one; your thoughts just automatically flew to him or her. That’s what it’s like when we love the Savior. The joy of being in His presence satisfies us as nothing else can.
Trust and Dependence. God becomes our shelter in
life’s storms when we crawl under His wings of protection and cling to Him in
total dependence (vv. 7-8). Those who know intimacy with Him feel the safety
that comes with submission to His will. Since they know His heart and trust His
goodness and wisdom, they have no cause for fear.
Who wouldn’t want such a rich and rewarding experience with the Lord? But it won’t happen automatically or accidentally. Just consider how human relationships develop. Close friendships aren’t instantaneous; they must be cultivated over time. In the same way, spiritual unity with the Almighty must be diligently pursued.
Getting to Know God
The first step in our quest for intimacy with the Lord is getting to know Him—who He is, what He does, how He thinks, and what He desires. Even though God is invisible and inaudible to our physical senses, a close relationship with Him is cultivated the same way human friendships are—through time spent together, communication, vulnerability, and shared interests.
Time Spent Together. We will never achieve closeness with the Lord unless we invest time and effort in getting to know Him. A neglected relationship simply won’t grow in richness or depth. Are you too busy to spend time each day with Him? If that is the case, the immediate demands of your schedule are robbing you of an awesome eternal treasure—deep, satisfying communion with God.
Two-Way Communication. The most obvious way to become better acquainted with the Lord is through two-way communication. But our prayers are often monologues rather than dialogues. We come to Him with our list of concerns, but how often do we take time to listen for His response? Although God delights in hearing our prayers, He also wants us to be still and listen to Him.
Since He speaks to us primarily through His Word, that’s where we will most likely hear His voice. Try interacting with the Lord by praying as you read Scripture. Meditate on His words and ask Him questions: “What are You saying to me? How does this apply to my life?” Then be still and listen, giving Him time to speak to your spirit. Just remember that whatever He says will never contradict His written Word. The more you listen, the more you’ll hear His voice, and soon your time with Him will become your greatest delight.
Vulnerability. Another important factor is our willingness to be open and honest, exposing every area of our lives to the Lord. No one can be forced into an intimate friendship with God. In fact, the depth of this relationship is limited by the extent of our transparency with Him. Although the natural response is to shrink from such vulnerability, we need to remember that He already knows us inside and out and loves us more than we can comprehend.
Shared Interests. If we’re going to grow in oneness with God, we must learn to share His interests. He is always attentive to our concerns, but do we really care about His desires and purposes? Are you more interested in the Lord or in what He can give you? Self-focused prayers, neglect of His Word, and overly busy schedules send an unspoken message to Him: “I’m not interested in You!” If your relationship with the Lord seems stagnant, maybe you have drifted into a self-centered focus that is hindering your friendship with Him.
Results of Knowing God
Some Christians confuse knowing the Lord with knowing about Him. But no experience we have with Him or fact we learn about Him should ever be a strictly academic pursuit. Rather, such knowledge ought to continually transform us, influence others, and prepare us for heaven.
Transformation. No one can have an intimate relationship with God and remain unchanged. A “Sunday Christian” lifestyle will no longer satisfy. As we begin to understand who He is, our love for Him grows and motivates us to radical obedience. Our experiences with Him teach us that He is faithful and can be trusted. Recognition of the wisdom and goodness of His plans prompts willing submission to His leadership. And before long, time spent with Him becomes the best part of each day. Instead of watching the clock, we’ll want to stay longer because His presence satisfies our souls as nothing else can.
Influence. This kind of passion for the Lord is contagious and influences others. My granddad was a man who knew God intimately. As he told me about the things that Christ had done in his life, a desire to know the Lord like that captured my heart and shaped the direction of my life from then on. I didn’t change overnight, but today the most powerful and awesome experience I have is getting face down before God, sensing oneness between His Spirit and mine.
Preparation for Heaven. One day every believer is going to meet the Lord. Will He be a stranger to you? The greatest investment we can make in this life is a wholehearted pursuit of a deep personal relationship with Him. The immediate earthly rewards are greater than any sacrifice, but the treasure awaiting us in heaven is beyond imagination. Eternal life begins the moment we are saved, and the Bible gives a very interesting description of it: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Our eternal life is now. Don’t wait for heaven; get to know your amazing Lord today.
Questions for Further Study
1. How does Jesus characterize friendship in John 15:13-15? What must we do to be considered His friends? What “inside information” does He reveal to His friends?
2. According to John 14:23-26, what are we to do with the information Jesus gives us? Who helps us understand His words? How is intimacy with God described (v. 23)?
3. Read Psalm 63:1-8. What does David do to connect with God? What emotions does he experience because of his oneness with Him? Notice how David’s soul is affected by his relationship with the Lord (see references to “my soul”).
4. According to Philippians 3:7-14, what was Paul’s greatest pursuit in life? How satisfied was he with his relationship with Christ? In comparison to this, what value did he place on everything else?
5. Paul’s intimate relationship with the Lord is evident (see 2 Cor. 12:7-12). What does his response to difficulty reveal about his level of trust in God? As death neared, did the apostle regard his pursuit of Christ as worthwhile (2 Tim. 1:12; 4:6-8)?
6. As Paul neared death, did he think that his pursuit of Christ had been a worthwhile investment of his life (2 Tim. 1:12; 4:6-8)?
Intimacy with God - II
God created each of us with a longing for intimacy -- intimacy with Him. We must, therefore, come to some understanding of what He is asking of us and what He is offering. We must come to the realization that we were created to fellowship with our Creator. We need Him and He desires us.
“God desires us?” Yes! He wants us, desires us. He gave the very best He had in His only begotten Son to redeem what Adam relinquished in the Garden. And He did it for intimacy.
Intimacy never involves just one person. As the old adage goes, “It takes two to tango.” God has gone to great lengths to dance with mankind. From the time He walked with Adam in Eden to this day, His desire hasn’t abated or changed
Now that we better understand God’s desires for intimacy, let’s consider what
it entails. What does it mean? Is it hard to attain? I submit to you it is not
a difficult endeavor. All it requires is our relentless pursuit of an abiding
and growing relationship with God.
So passionate was His desire after Adam and Eve sinned, He worked
intensely throughout time to bring humanity back to a place of intimate
communion. He gave the ultimate Gift so He might walk with us in the garden of
our lives (John 3:16). From the midst of
the Garden, the Lord called out to Adam. Today He is calling out our names,
waiting to share His heart with us, waiting to hear our hearts expressed to
Him.
Now that we better understand God’s desires for intimacy, let’s consider what
it entails. What does it mean? Is it hard to attain? I submit to you it is not
a difficult endeavor. All it requires is our relentless pursuit of an abiding
and growing relationship with God.
The biggest hindrance to communion with God is our perception of who He
is. Basing our perception of God’s character on the ungodly actions or
attitudes of others will skew our understanding of His nature. Often
circumstances in our lives prevent us from drawing near. Yet David says in Psalm 27:10: “Though my father
and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” In other words, regardless of
who abandons us, betrays us, or hurts us, the Lord is ready, willing and able
to embrace us.
So how do we do this? We go to God and cling to Him with the realization we are doing what we were created to do, and He will not turn us away (Luke 11:9). God tells us He never shows partiality to anyone (Job 34:19). He gave so that all should live abundantly in His presence.
You cannot know someone you don’t spend time with. Intimacy develops as a result of close contact with someone over a period of time. Trust is built, confidence grows, and hearts change, becoming endeared to one another. Did you ever think about the fact that He is already waiting for you? What an awesome thought: The “Creator” of all that is or ever will be is waiting to talk with you and me.
But you say, “You don’t know my schedule.” Yes I do. I’m just like you. But life is built of many little moments. The little moments are where you start. You can start by simply saying, “I love You, Jesus.”
What would happen if you went through your day, repeating, “Jesus loves me” and did this over a period of a week? Your heart would change. The first step of intimacy would take place: speaking, sharing.
You could quote scriptures or tell Him, “I love You.” These moments will add up, and your whole life will be consumed with thoughts of Him.
This is what I mean by being simple: If you struggle with a certain area in your life and need to know God’s thoughts on the matter, find a Scripture befitting the need and do the same exercise. You see, not only does God want to have long times of communion with us, but He wants to spill over throughout our day. Before you know it, your desires change, and you find yourself continually in a place of communion -- going to Him first, longing for Him, and needing Him in a way that moments are not enough.
When you long to experience deeper times with Him, put on an instrumental CD while relaxing, even while driving or working. Intimacy isn’t always about being verbal. Deep relationship with God can be built by sitting quietly with Him, reflecting on His goodness and love.
When thinking about Him isn’t enough, speak to Him in a conversational tone. After all, Jesus walked as a man and built relationships in the same way we do today. If you spend time in the Word, He will begin to speak those thoughts back to your heart, giving you guidance and encouragement. The more you read and know, the more there is for you to hear in your time with Him.
“Hearing?” you say. Yes, this is the second part of intimacy: listening and hearing. When He speaks back to your heart, “I love you no matter what.” It would be good to have a notebook in which to write down the words and thoughts He impresses on you. These reminders will come in handy during dry times. He tells us to put Him in remembrance of His Word, and that includes what He speaks to our hearts.
Remember, He desires to hear about every thought, desire, and dream. In the Bible, David told God he was angry. Did God know David was angry? Of course. Yet He wanted David to tell Him. This enabled David to hear God’s heart and release his anger to someone who understood without taking it out on others. He chose to remember the faithfulness of God in His life and act upon it.
There is nothing you cannot say to God. There is nothing in your heart or thoughts He wants you to hold back from Him. He doesn’t want you to burden yourself with some yoke He longs to bear (Matthew 11:28-29). Consider this: Nothing ever takes God by surprise. He is aware of every aspect of our lives (Hebrews 4:13). Yet, He still loves us and desires us with an everlasting love.