How to Find Intimacy with God

Silent Mediation

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mark 11:30

The Lord desires your communion and union with him. His deepest desire is for you to have a relationship which starts with learning about his character, his commandments, covenants, promises and laws and then learning how to apply practical instruction to your life.  

You cannot build a relationship if you do not spend quality time with the Lord. He wants your undivided attention to solely focus on Him for His good pleasure and to mold and build your faith. All of your trials, obstacles, challenges and struggles are designed for His purpose to develop your patience, endurance, strength and faith in Him.

There is value in submission and obedience in God. When you enter into the presence of the Lord, you gain peace, clarity, strength and direction. Everything you need is at the foot of the cross. He is the bread of life and the wellspring of life. In the secret place, there is rest even in the midst of chaos, uncertainty and distress. Finding intimacy with God in your daily routine should be a priority.

There is a difference between spiritual rest and physical rest. The Lord can provide you rest for your soul even when you’re tired, mentally exhausted or drained. There is a blanket of peace that comforts you despite the natural emotions that you experience when you tap into the reservoir of His spirit, the outpouring of His presence delivers and restores you.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phil 4:8

Finding intimacy with the Lord is more than an action or physically doing something. It is being present within the moment. You can connect instantly with the Lord by doing absolutely nothing. When you learn the importance of stillness, as well as stillness of the mind, you can receive instruction, healing, restoration or whatever you may need at that time. There are no rules. There are no schedules, agendas or routines. Just be. The expression of His love will touch the inner and deeper parts of you. When you’re building a relationship with the Lord, you’ll develop a stronger desire to read the Bible and please Him. He will reveal the intimate details of Jesus’ life journey through His word.

Carving Out a Sacred Space

We all need time to be alone but you might find it challenging if you’re around family, roommates or friends on a regular basis. Finding a place where you can be in solitude where you can think out loud, pray, or reflect is so helpful to connect with the Lord. It’s also a healing place where you can release negative emotions. You may prefer to go to a park, the beach or the mountains to get away. You may resort to your bathroom, den or bedroom as a sacred place. Wherever you decide to go, be sure that it’s quiet and serene.

Step into the Silence

When you incorporate Bible study into your daily routine, you will develop a sense of guidance throughout the day. Not every day will be perfect, by any means, but you will gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding to key principles you encounter in life. You will lead with integrity. It will bring new life and perspective on how to handle problems and situations, as well as protection from the attacks of the enemy. It will also bring new insight and revelation based on what you’re going through or experiencing in your current situation. The word of God is a living word that is always active and mobile. It doesn’t matter how many times you read a passage, you will gain fresh revelation at every stage or season of life.

Spill the tea with Jesus. He is your comforter and your friend.

Tea Time with Jesus

Spending quality time in prayer is time never wasted. Whether you prefer mornings or nights, it’s your preference. Communication doesn’t have to be limited to a certain time of the day. You can seek him anytime and for anything within His will or purpose for your life. Just like a good friend, prayer is a two-way conversation so listening to the voice of God is important for direction, wisdom and discernment. Its’ not just about submitting requests or petitioning the Lord to move in your situation. Jesus wants you to desire His presence on a continuous basis. It should be based on a genuine and real connection with the Lord.

When you spend regular time in prayer, you gain clarity about your issues and direction on what to do. He also heals past wounds and restores strength, peace or whatever you need at the moment. You may not feel like your prayers are being answered right away but the Lord requires us to be patient. He is building your character, strength and resilience through the storms of life. He is also testing your faith. You may not always receive what you prayed, but you can trust that the Lord will provide exactly what you need within His timing.

During prayer, the Lord may share intimate details about your present or future. He reveals the secret things hidden in divine mysteries. Jer 33:3 The Lord provides the revelation of understanding, knowledge and discernment. Living a lifestyle of prayer provides protection in every area of your life.

Mindful Moments in Your Daily Life

Your daily tasks and routines can easily become moments of reflection and prayer.

Usually when I’m doing the dishes, I tend to drift away into day to day thoughts or just simply meditate as I watch the water and soap suds dance upon the plates and utensils before I load them into the dishwasher. Over the years, I’ve shifted my perspective on how I look at daily chores and find pleasure in folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom or organizing my bedroom.

The process of cleaning and organizing provides contentment and a sense of peace. It connects me to the Lord in solitude time so I can think, reflect, pray or worship as I complete my daily tasks. This is only one example, but you can connect with the Lord while driving in your car, waiting in line at the grocery store or in traffic.

When you take the limits off on how the Lord can move in your life, you will begin to experience His voice in a new profound way. He will show up when you least expect it, and when he does, don’t blow it off as a coincidence, serendipity or pure luck. The happenstance or occurrence is divine and orchestrated. Nothing is by chance. The Lord is a God of order, precise timing and intricate detail.

Worship and Obedience Pleases God

Your body is a temple which is made for worship. A healthy diet and eating habits reflect your intimacy with the Lord. Your social and personal relationships, attitudes and behavior should be in a posture of holiness and surrender. You should set apart time for worship or fasting to purify your thoughts and actions.

Sexual lusts and desires, promiscuity and adultery has no place in the lives of a believer. You must surrender your desires to the Lord and wash away the iniquity that keeps you bound. You cannot escape these desires in your own flesh, however the Holy Spirit can purge these desires from your heart, mind and body. It’s only by the Blood of Jesus that you can walk in purity and righteousness.

But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:6-7

Finding the Beauty in Forgiveness

Surrender your pain to the Lord and release anger. Whoever you need to forgive, FORGIVE and let it go! Pray for your enemies. God is your contender. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to stay in a relationship once someone has shown you their true colors. You can move on without bitterness, pain or anger. Of course, it takes time to heal. Do not allow unforgiveness to steal your peace and joy. Once you learn to forgive others, you are set free from past pain. Remember mistakes can often be the best teacher so learn from them and move on.

Do not be entangled with a yoke of bondage. Gal 5:1

God is the redeemer and will make your crooked path straight. Isaiah 45:2

Seek the Lord for all things. His intentions are well-pleasing to your soul.


Prayer

Thank you, Lord for showering me with your presence. I give you all the praise and glory in my life. My heart is open to your everlasting love. I surrender my own will so you can work through me to heal and mold me according to your will. Forgive me for ________. Purge anything that is not pleasing in your sight. I’m available to be a vessel of your goodness. Help me when I’m weak and strengthen me in every encounter that I face. I pray for a hedge of protection as I come and go from my destination each day. I am blessed from the top of my head to the souls of my feet. I walk with peace under the shadow of your wings. I’m covered by the precious Blood of Jesus. Amen.

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Spring Cleaning: Time to Get Your House in Order

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” Matt 12:25

As we eagerly wait for Spring to arrive and leave the harsh, bitter Winter behind, our minds are focused on warmer weather, budding flowers and spending time outside. We welcome fresh renewal by purging the old items we no longer want, cleaning our homes and reorganizing our spaces.

The foundation of our living space should be a peaceful dwelling place. I usually refer to home as “My sanctuary.” It’s a place where you should be comfortable and it should provide an escape from the outside world.

Sadly enough, some people do not have a steady foundation. Their homes are built on disrespect, lack of trust, abuse or neglect. Instead of the home being a place of refuge, it’s a place of war consisting of conflicts, stress and strife.

When your spirit (also known as your “temple” or “house”) is out of order, it mirrors your personal space. The confusion often felt on the inside manifests itself in the physical realm.

When your space is clean, organized and quiet, you have the opportunity to think better and even have more peace. You will also have harmony,  balance in your home, and increase in productivity.

The same way we clean a house; we should clean our spirit daily. We need to give up:  Sin, temptation, lust, jealousy, gossip and bad language. We also need to let go of the past, purge negative thinking and release pain, guilt or shame. We should forgive others, accept what we cannot change and begin to move forward with faith and hope. If there’s anything that is blocking us from getting closer to the Lord, we need to relinquish and surrender to be set free. When we welcome Christ into the midst of our house, the atmosphere will change (internally and externally). “Thou will show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Scripture References:

“All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit is good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.Matt 12:31-34

 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return into my house from which I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept and garnished. Then goes he and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Matt 12: 43-45

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord; till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12-13

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit; and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb 4:12

“Therefore whosoever hears this sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house (spirit) upon a rock; And when the rain descended, and the floods came; and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. (The Word of God). And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell and great was the fall of it.” Matt 7: 24-27