What is intimacy with God and how to achieve it?
In today’s fast-paced and changing world, knowing what is intimacy with God is key to experiencing God’s will and holiness in our lives.
Getting intimate with God is a huge challenge. The demands of our earthly existence and the pursuit of things of this world hinder us from thinking more about God and His precepts. Our earthly state requires that we become more intimate with people – our bosses, children, and spouses. Nothing wrong with that. The Great Commandment requires us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
But the problem arises when the primary object of our intimacy is not directed to God. The Bible says that Our Lord is a jealous God, and He detests that we love more our jobs, possessions, and other people.
What is intimacy with God? The purpose of our creation
We are made in His likeness
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
Being made in the image of God means that we share certain qualities with our divine Maker, such as morality, reason, and creativity. This vision of being made in God’s likeness suggests our capacity to emulate His character in all facets of life – thoughts, choices, associations, and actions. These divine traits include righteousness, holiness, joy, and other attributes of goodness.
The image of God also refers to humanity’s dominion over other creation like animals and the environment. This concept requires stewardship to both protect and use what has been given to us.
God wants fellowship with Him
“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9
God often had fellowship with Adam and Eve at the time of creation. He talked to them and walked in their midst. God desires to be close to his creation, as expressed in the Bible.
1 John 1:3 reads: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
This relationship involves connectivity through prayer, Bible reading, and in praise and worship alone or in the church congregation.
God demands that we praise and worship Him
“With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.”- Psalm 109:30
Christian worship is more than just a ritual or an obligation; it’s a heartfelt response to God’s wondrous nature and unbelievable acts. The Bible describes Him as holy, fair, compassionate, and loving; all-powerful Creator of the universe, sustainer of life. He is the source of goodness and truthfulness. Expressions of these sacred acts arrive in many forms. They include singing praiseful hymns. praying for guidance, reading Scripture, and performing services for others. All these ways are meant for believers to draw closer to God.
Worship is an essential part of the Christian Faith, uniting believers in a shared belief in God and encouraging them to lead lives that reflect His glory. As a community, Christians join together to exalt His holy name and give Him thanks for all of His blessings and provisions to us. If we don’t worship God now, how can we worship Him in heaven?
How to become intimate with God
Love God above all
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.” – 1 John 5:2
The Great Commandment emphasizes the importance of putting one’s faith and devotion to God above all other things in life. It implies that God should be the highest priority and central focus in a person’s life. This vital doctrine unlocks the key to knowing what is intimacy with God.
Have a repentant heart
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”- Matthew 3:2
A repentant heart to God involves acknowledging and feeling remorseful for one’s wrongdoings and sins, and seeking forgiveness and guidance from God. It requires an honest and genuine desire to change and turn away from sinful behavior. Repentance is a crucial aspect of our faith that leads to personal growth and spiritual transformation.
Humility
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
True humility is recognizing our limitations, weaknesses, and, yes, even our mistakes. Coming to terms with the fact that we can’t do it all ourselves or take credit for our achievements. Humility also gives us a sense of reverence and respect for God; it is an acknowledgment of His greatness and power. When we come to God in humble sincerity, we open ourselves up to His guidance, ready to submit ourselves to His will, which brings us closer to Him, strengthening our bond and deepening our relationship.
Prayer
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2
Intimacy with God is strengthened and deepened through sincere prayer. Prayer is a way of communicating with God, expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires to Him, and seeking guidance and direction. Through prayer, we can develop a deeper relationship with God, leading to a greater sense of intimacy.
Prayer unlocks the presence of God. It is important to approach prayer with humility, recognizing that God is holy and perfect, and that we need His mercy and grace.
Bible reading
“Jesus replied, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” – Matthew 22:29
The Scriptures are the source of truth. Reading the Bible is a meaningful way to strengthen and nurture our relationship with God. It is an invaluable source of guidance, inspiration, and hope that reveals God’s will and plans for us. Steeping into scripture gives us a profound sense of connection with the Divine while stepping out into life allows us to put those teachings into practice.
With every flip of the page, we get closer to understanding our Lord, feeling His presence supporting, guarding, and guiding us through life’s journeys. The Bible is a blessing from Heaven sent here to bring us comfort, clarity, and direction on our paths.
Attending church
“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”- Hebrews 10:25
Attending or going to a Christian church provides us with a chance to deepen our connection with God. Developing this bond strengthens our faith and spirit, allowing us to feel supported by people who share similar beliefs and values.
Not only is this sense of community invigorating, but the traditional services that usually include Scripture readings, prayers, and worship music can help to elevate our spiritual journey further. They inspire and uplift us as we reflect on God’s ever-lasting power.
Share the Gospel
“He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- 2 Thessalonians 2:14
Sharing the gospel, also known as evangelism, is sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with others. This message includes the belief that Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead, and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.
In Christianity, the Great Commission is a vital commandment from God, as Jesus instructed his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Christians believe that by sharing the gospel with others, they are fulfilling their duty to spread the message of God’s love and offer others the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life.
The challenge of getting intimate with God
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Getting intimate with God is challenging in our busy and sinful society. Reality reveals the countless distractions that compete for our attention, from social media to work obligations to entertainment options.
Moreover, we struggle with the temptations of sin, which further pulls us away from the faith and holiness of God.
Drawing near to God suggests a desire for a deep and meaningful relationship with Him. This kind of relationship requires time, effort, and dedication. However, it can be challenging to find the time and energy to prioritize spiritual matters in a society that values productivity and material success above all else.
The prevalence of sin in our society creates a barrier to developing intimacy with God.
The lure of material possessions and other worldly distractions can make it challenging to maintain a focus on God. We must remember that the devil continues to lurk in our midst. It can be easy to lose sight of what is truly important and neglect God.
At the end of the day, it’s up to us to make space for intimate moments with God. Yes, carving out time for prayer and reflection, and finding a community of individuals who support and nudge us in spiritual growth, is incredibly important.
Determining within ourselves what we value most opens an incredible gateway, enabling us to unlock the potential for authentic and life-changing relationships with our divine creator.
Getting to know what is intimacy with God means breaking the idolatrous nature of our hearts. We must get rid of our overriding focus and concern for the things of this world at the expense of worshiping our true Creator.
