7 Keys To Grow Closer To God - Part 4 - Pursuing Intimacy With God
7 Keys To Grow Closer To God – Part 4
In Part 1 of 7 Keys To Grow Closer To God we discovered the 1st of the 7 keys – Commitment and Total Devotion. You need to be fully committed and totally devoted to Jesus in order to faithfully follow Him and grow closer to Him.
In Part 2 we discovered the 2nd and 3rd of the 7 keys to grow closer to God. Love (“Agape” Love), and Respect, Honor & Reverence. Agape love is a selfless love that endures all things. It is the kind of love Jesus demonstrated when He dies for your sins on the cross. Because of His great love for you. It is essential for you to love Jesus as He loves you, in order to grow closer to Him and have intimacy with God.
When you see the words “fear of God” in the Bible it typically means more than fear. It involves having great respect and reverence for God. And to honor God in all things. Respect, reverence, and honor are vital to grow closer to God.
In Part 3 we discovered the 4th and 5th of the 7 keys to grow closer to God. Total Trust & Faith in God is essential to grow closer to God and have intimacy with Him. How can you have a good close relationship with someone you do not trust ? It is not possible. You will never faithfully follow Jesus and grow closer to Him if you cannot fully trust Him.
Intimate 2 Way Communication is the 5th of the 7 keys to grow closer to God. It also is essential to grow closer to God. God wants to speak to you and reveal many things to you. Including Himself, His will and plans. And His calling for your life. Hearing God’s voice and responding in faith is vital. And God wants you to open up and share your heart with Him through prayer.
Now in Part 4 of “7 Keys To Grow Closer To God” we will discover the final 2 keys. These also are essential to your relationship and fellowship with God.
7 Keys To Grow Closer To God
#6 of the 7 Keys to Grow Closer to God – Time & Effort To Know God
You need to spend time with God and seek God with all your heart. A good relationship with someone takes time and effort. This is no different with God.
John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Luke 10:38, 41-42 “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (“what is better”), which shall not be taken away from her.”
Exodus 33:13, 18-19 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight… Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “ I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you
Matthew 11:25-27 ” At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
When You Highly Value God You Will Want To Spend Time With Him
Philippians 3:8-9 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”
When you love someone you want to know them more & more. It takes time and effort and desire and determination in order to get to know God. It is a lifelong process and involves having a hungry heart. that desires to know God more and more. Make knowing God your main desire and pursuit. Nothing will please God more. The more you know Jesus the more you will love Him, and trust Him, and delight in Him, and follow & obey Him.
7 Keys To Grow Closer To God
#7 of the 7 Keys to Grow Closer to God – Honesty & Transparency
Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 13:1-2 ” How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me ? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day ?”
Psalm 22:1-2 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.”
1 Samuel 1:10-11 ” In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Be Transparent With God About Your Sin
We are all sinners. Even after salvation and walking closely with God. Know one is perfect. So when we sin the worst thing we can do is try to hide it. We need to go to God and be transparent about our sin. And acknowledge that our sin is personally against God. It is the only way to restore your fellowship with God after you sin.
Psalm 51:2-4 “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned. And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak.”
Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. And sustain me with a willing spirit.”
God wants you to “pour out your heart to Him” (Psalm 62:8) , whatever it is you are feeling and going through, because He deeply cares for you. Note how David would be completely honest with God in some of the Psalms (Psalm 13, 22,…). God is always truthful with us, and He wants us to be truthful with Him
God Gave Us A Way To Restore Our Fellowship With Him
God knows that no one is perfect. And that all of us are sinners and we will sin at times. That is why God has given us a way to restore our close fellowship with Him after we sin. We need to be transparent and honestly confess our sin to God and truly repent. Not try to hide our sin.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
May God bless you as you seek to know Him and grow closer to Him.
Pursuing Intimacy With God
Pursuing Intimacy With God is committed to helping you with the most important thing in your life… your intimacy with God , your fellowship with Him, and your partnership with God in His Kingdom work & mission.
There are hundreds of Bible verses and great truths & promises in the Pursuing Intimacy With God studies book
Pursuing Intimacy With God ebook Kindle version
Other Links
Salvation: The Requirements for True Salvation
Preview the Pursuing Intimacy With God Studies Book
Jesus Christ Is The Source of Abundant Life
Can You Personally Know God – Part 2
Hearing God’s Voice – Vital for Intimacy With God
Hinderances To Hearing God’s Voice
You Can Learn to Hear God’s Voice
What Is Prayer ? God’s Purpose For Prayer
The Desires of God’s Heart – Part 2
The Greatest Desire of God’s Heart
True Salvation: What Is Salvation ?
The Requirements for True Salvation
News Updates & Photos of our Missions Events & Projects – see what God is doing in this part of Brazil
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