Part 1 of 2 – Lost in the “How” of Pursuing and Craving Intimacy with God

My Guarantee

One thing I can guarantee is that everyone reading this will have a different intensity of relationship with God. No two are alike. I can also say that chances are even with spouses, children, family and friends… while you are the same person, no two of any of YOUR relationships are exactly the same. However there are commonalities that you find in every relationship. So no matter your walk, I think this will be insightful because we are all growing.

I struggled a bit in writing this because there are so many ways to look at intimacy with God. I certainly didn’t want to tell you read, fast, and pray. Though it’s TOTALLY TRUE AND VITAL. If it were that easy, many people wouldn’t be walking around trying to figure out how to crave or get much out of doing those disciplines. Then it hit me. All relationships have uniqueness yet some common threads. If we look at where we are in our pursuit, we can build on it and grow from there. We’re all growing so…  my excitement piqued and I sat down to write this to you from the heart.

I see people struggle in their pursuit of closeness to God. The beautiful truth is, He’s closer than your very breath and completely in love with you. He accepts you and meets you where you are and draws you in deeper but only as much as you want Him to. The disciplines I mentioned get you there, but it’s a by product of a deeper truth… it stems from something more than you can just turn on and “DO”. Relationships don’t just start in what you DO. That’s a small part, because people do things for us all the time seen and unseen but yet there’s no relationship. The stock person at the grocery store that placed your merchandise on the shelf did that so it would be there for you… basically. But you rarely ever see them nor do you usually desire or think about meeting them. The person at the cash register serves you by taking care of your transactions. Allowing you to be released from the store for things that are vital to your existence. You see them and hopefully there is a mutual kindness. But once you’re gone, neither of you usually know or remember the other one’s name. Nor will you think of them. Sure they aren’t God… but you get what I’m saying, right? This was us before we really met Him. (You may want to reread this paragraph again with that revelation).

No…something more… something deliberate in your mind and heart has to happen for a relationship to form with anyone. God included. I’m no relationship guru or expert… well sometimes I attempt to be … but here’s what the Holy Spirit wants you to know.

God REALLY IS head over heals IN LOVE with you… yes… you! It’s not a cliche. Not empty words. It’s truth. Some of us know that but sometimes we forget how true it is. Let me give you a few passion filled reminders. Don’t read this like it’s just print on a page… or a screen. Read it like you’re reading about someone who’s TRULY in love. And make sure you see yourself in it. Not mankind… see yourself.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

So our pursuit is always to know more about Him. That pursuit will go beyond our lifetime and could never be quenched… even in eternity. Beautiful… and powerful.

Clearing the air

Here are some questions you can ask yourself. You could be new to this or a well seasoned and well known for your walk. You can even be doing a lot for the Kingdom and begin to slip in intimacy, needing to find your way back.  We who believe are all His and He’s more brilliant, more wise, more full of love than any of us could begin to understand. So our  spiritual levels IN THIS CASE don’t mean a thing. We’ll never BE Him in that sense, but stay with me…

Really ask yourself this week… and ask or explore for the answers:

– Where are we God… in our relationship?

– Where would you like to see me progress in my closeness to you? (Really think on and visualize what the next level of your relationship would look like)

– I know I can never do enough, but what do I need to be doing in this season?

– Am I distracted from the core of what I’m really supposed to do right now?

Yes I know I said “doing” doesn’t necessarily bring relationship. But sometimes we need to UNDO things that are keeping us from getting closer to Him

Ok… I’ll proceed…

– Am I ignoring negative feelings that I have toward others and not processing it through You? Or even negative feelings about myself or situations in my life? Or even negative feelings about You, God?

– Who and what do I need to forgive? What should I repent for?

– What do you want to remove from my mind or my heart?

– What are some of my ways that hinder me from experiencing You and what You have for me more fully?

– Do I have passion and conviction for the things of God?

– Are there people in my life that, though You love them, they aren’t good for me and I need to move on from them?

After you’ve done a bit of self discovery this week, next we will will pick up Part 2 that explains:

How to begin defining your relationship with God, the real skinny on Rev 3:15-16 and more…