Intimacy With God

Our most special relationships on earth are those which are intimate. Within these relationships we find a closeness and a level of trust and understanding that are missing in our casual friendships. How mind-boggling it is that our God desires an intimate relationship with us!

In fact, He created man for this type of intimate relationship and enjoyed it until sin entered the human race and separated us from our Holy God (Genesis 3:1-9).

Throughout God's Word, this idea of intimacy with Him is revealed.

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” ~Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1 (ESV)

Ah, I hear my Lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there He is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. ~Song of Solomon 2:8-9 (NLT)

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ~John 1:38-39 (ESV)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. ~Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here am I." ~Exodus 3:3-4 (KJV)

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. ~Exodus 33:11 (KJV)

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." ~Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5 (NASB)

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. ~Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ~Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)

How we should long to sit in His presence, until all earthly desires are burned away by His holiness, and the only thing left is a yearning for more of Him. He is our Shelter and Refuge, our Lover leaping over hills to be with us, the One who invites us talk with Him and eat with Him and follow Him.

Only when we turn aside to see Him, when we allow Him to speak with us, when we get away with Him--only then can we recover our true life and live freely and lightly. Only when we abide in Him can we produce fruit. Without Him, we're useless and fruitless.

Like David, we should make our "one thing" dwelling in His presence. Is it any wonder that God considered David a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)?

The only way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords--Almighty God, the Creator of the universe--has invited us to the greatest banquet of all time. It's up to us to accept the invitation, to enter in and sup with Him. Why would anyone stand in the doorway when we're invited into the banquet hall of His great throne room? Why would we not consider everything worthless except for knowing Him?

May we seek Him, then enter His presence and dwell there...