Intimacy With God

QUESTION: Intimacy With God – Growing Deeper in Understanding

ANSWER:

Intimacy With God – Insights from God’s Word
We have heard with our ears, O God; our Fathers have told us what You did in their days, in days long ago. With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers; You crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. - Psalm 44:1-3

Intimacy With God – Unspeakable Joy
Prayer: My King, in Your presence I truly find Your unspeakable joy. Your promises are true and the reality of a life of unsurpassed greatness is the truth I treasure. Every day with You is an adventure, and every day a new opportunity to go deeper in my understanding of You and Your kingdom truths.

I am filled with joy today. I am filled with peace, even though everything all around me churns, groans and moans. I am still in the center of a quiet strength coming from You. I am in awe as I recognize Your grace and Your mercy. My heart is full and my joy is increasing.

I often ask myself why me -- and over and over again You remind me it is not about me. You remind me that You offered Yourself as a drink offering to Your people so they could step out and step up, bringing Your good news to all they meet. Your peace and joy is available to all who call on You, and Your great hope for a life of kingdom significance far greater than our human mind can comprehend.

The closeness and joy I have with You is truly the greatest treasure I have ever been given. It is fresh and new each day, it is challenging and convicting, and it brings a richness of life that I could never have expected.

I pray today for all who call on Your name, that they would sense Your presence in everything they see and experience. I pray they would grow hungrier than ever before for a real, breathing, living relationship with our King. I pray they would step out of their own comfort zones and allow Your Holy Spirit to bring them into a new day of possibilities. You are standing nearby -- with Your arms outstretched and Your eyes full of love. You are personal and real and You offer real hope.

Your Bride is beautiful as she grooms herself for the return of her Bridegroom. She is beautiful from deep within her spirit, and she echoes with the sounds of worship as she makes her preparations. She is radiant and she glows with anticipation.

Help Your children, Lord, to step away from the pace of their lives that holds them captive and distracts them from living the life You have prepared for them. To one degree or another we are all guilty of becoming so absorbed in the details of our day to day lives that we miss the opportunities You have prepared for us. Help us, Jesus, to focus -- to keep our eyes on Your path of life.

When necessary, Jesus, remind us of the dangers of falling into ditches on either side of the path of life. Focus us on that bright City on the Hill, and as we journey, surround us with exactly the people You have grown up to walk this path with us. Help us to recognize each other, my King. Prevent us from being so busy and so harassed that we become incapable of seeing what You have for us.

How grateful I am today, Jesus, that no matter what this day brings, I will be able to find Your joy and Your fulfillment. I desire that the Holy Spirit would take full control of my mind and body, soul and spirit -- and navigate my day.

I am grateful, Jesus, for all that has come before in my life. I have learned so much, I have laughed and cried, and I have been to the depths of despair and back where You rescued me and set me on the right path. Thank You for teaching me patience and for teaching me all about the importance of Your timing. In all that we do this day, I pray my brothers and sisters will find their fulfillment in trusting You and Your provisions -- no matter where they journey on this path of life.

Intimacy With God – Making it Personal
Reflect: As simple as it sounds, true joy in our lives comes from the closeness we have with Jesus. In this journey you will find moments of struggles walking side by side with moments of triumph. You just need to recognize that it is the light of Christ’s wisdom, understanding, peace, etc. that helps you to focus on His purpose -- and as you do He will make your focus sharper. The key is your intimacy with Jesus, and your tool for understanding is His Holy Word. He will speak to you if you have ears to hear, and He will show you great things if you allow Him to give you His vision. Intimacy is the key -- and it requires work.