It is impossible to become intimate with someone if we aren’t spending time with them – the more time you spend with someone the more you get to know and trust them, this then blossoms into a deeper love relationship.
So, what about our intimacy with God?
The more you draw near to God with an open and pure heart, He will trust his heart to you, and He will reveal His mysteries to you. God reveals his heart to those He trusts will be obedient to His calling.
If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:4-5 (ESV)
God in His grace does not dictate the way we walk, talk and journey with Him. He is relational. And we can relate to Him in a way that is personal to us—or in the way that we most need to at any given time.
How do we prepare ourselves for intimacy with God?
- By Lingering in His Presence and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Intimacy is not just reading but studying his word and inviting the Holy Spirit to help us– if we read God’s word without asking the Holy Spirit to help us, then we might as well be reading a book.
Some of the ways we can intimately relate to the Holy Spirit include:
- As comforter and helper- the one who comes alongside us (John 14:16)
- Our teacher and guide (John 16:13)
- The anointing within to lead us, but who also comes upon us to empower (1 John 2:27, Acts 10:38, Luke 4:18)
- As our prayer partner (Romans 8:26)
- As God’s intimate presence with us (John 15:15-18)
- By a Lifestyle of Worship
A heart postured and surrendered in worship cannot help but to bring intimacy.
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever – (source – Catechism, Sabbath school society for Ireland)
- By a Lifestyle of Praise
Nothing lifts us more than praise it prepares our hearts – lift your voice to Him in songs of praise and adoration. He inhabits the praises of His people.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord
Psalm 150:6 (NIV)
- By bowing in His Presence
Bowing down our lives to him (imagine a posture of kneeling and bowing) this should be our heart condition.
But as for me, by Your abundant loving kindness I will enter Your house,At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You
Psalm 5:7 (ESV)
- Staying Still
Walk with your soul still and your heart postured to hear from the Father every part of the day, ‘Listen’ to hear what the Father speaks in the stillness.
Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46: 10-11
God is always with us through his Holy Spirit.
No matter where we are God is with us, His desire is that we draw near – He’s waiting, but are we willing? Are we willing to take time to come into His beautiful presence?
Are we willing to stay still long enough to linger and wait as he speaks?
Written by Allison Crawford
