What does intimacy with God look like? Spending time with Him. Talking and listening to Him. Giving yourself completely to Him. Worshiping Him. Thanking Him. Praising Him. Believing Him. Obeying Him. Allowing Him to have His way with you. What does intimacy with God look like to you?
My Timing
My child, My timing is perfect. You can always trust Me. Never allow the present circumstances dictate your faith in Me. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Still Small Voice
My child, that still small voice is My voice. Listen intently. Be open to what I am saying to you. Those who hear My voice and heed what I say live the most fruitful lives.
Finally Fed Up with Failure
Can we bear fruit without being personally transformed? Yes, if we’re willing to settle for a skimpy crop. But we won’t be successful in producing what Jesus wants—“much fruit.” God wants to see us radically changed. And since we know we can’t transform ourselves, He must have a method to bring it about. God has His part in the process, and we’ve got ours.
If transformation is ever to happen, we must cooperate with God as He goes about working in our life. For us, it’s all about choice! But we often have to come to the end of ourselves—finally fed up with failure—before we are able to make that commitment. You may be at that point in your life right now! If so, unconditionally give yourself over to God, and then take action by walking in obedience. Remember, this is a choice we make day by day.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
Immersing Yourself in God
A fruitful relationship with Jesus can never be built only by attempting to obey God. Though obedience certainly has its place, relationship based on it alone will never succeed. Genuine fruitfulness can be achieved only one way: immersing ourselves in the very life of His Spirit—communing with God. Jesus wants us to “abide in Him.”
But how do we do this? First and foremost, personal time spent with God is indispensable. On a human level, have you ever heard of a strong relationship being built without the investment of time spent together? Genuine friendship is impossible without such a commitment. Just like in any human relationship, our bond with God depends on personal interaction. And it needs to be a two-way street—not only speaking to God, but also listening with the expectation that He intends to speak back. It often happens as we meditate in Scripture.
All In My Name
My child, let My peace rule in your heart and be thankful. Keep on signing, praising and loving. All you do in word or deed, do all in My Name and give thanks. Colossians 3:15-17
Having Become Acceptable to God
Is holiness something we are in Christ or something we need to become? Though a foundation of holiness has been laid in us by virtue of the fact that we now are God’s possession, Scripture makes it clear that something is still missing. Time and again we are exhorted to live a holy life. And that means that the sins of the flesh must be forsaken.
There’s no question that living a holy life is expected. And if expected, it must be attainable (not the impossibility of being sin-free, but definitely that of being self-controlled). It’s the whole point of living a godly life. Attempting to please God by walking out our faith in a manner worthy of Him is not easy. It’s takes effort. But we need to remember that God has accepted us. Pleasing God is a whole lot different from trying to become acceptable to Him.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
The Plague of Nagging Sin
God knows our limitations and has dealt with the nagging sin that plagues our selfish nature. But He will not tolerate slavery to sin. We’ve been freed from sin and enslaved to God Himself. The fruit of this relationship is holiness. God only asks that we commit ourselves to be led by His Spirit. He has promised that we no longer need to suffer under a spirit of slavery. Quite the opposite, we have received a spirit of adoption as sons and now are fellow heirs with Christ.
Our natural course of behavior once we’re saved is to move forward in our relationship with Christ instead of against Him. This penchant to pursue Him is a spiritual law—“the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” by which we have been “set free from the law of sin and death.” This is what it means to be “in Christ.”
Your Highest Priority
My child, My kingdom is not of this world. You are not of this world. But you are sent into the world to testify that I am the One and only God and Jesus is My Son, who I sent to rescue them from the domain of darkness. This is eternal life. That they may know Me, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom I have sent. My desire is that those who believe in Me will be one. Unity. I in you, you in Me. this is the intimacy I seek. For you to know Me and My Son. Make this your highest priority. Make this your life’s purpose. Seek first the kingdom of God and HIs righteousness an all the other things shall be added to you.
We’ll Always have Shortcomings
What does my sin say about my faith? It can be pretty ugly! But let’s be realistic; no matter how good we ultimately become we’ll always have shortcomings. Still, we must not be naïve about the influence sin has on our life—that is, how it affects both faith and obedience. Sin weakens our ability to make right choices. It hardens us. Like a snowball—growing in size and gaining momentum—sin and unbelief feed on each other, sometimes even leading to total alienation from God.
To prevent this from happening, we must guard our heart—even from sins that may seem insignificant. At the very least, disobedience stalls our growth. At worst, it hardens our heart to the point where we simply cease to believe. Sure, we’ll never be perfect in this life. But walking in Christ’s provision is what’s really important. God loves watching us work out our faith this way.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself