Intimacy with God

When you hear the word “intimacy,” what comes to mind? Something physical or tangible? A feeling or knowing? I think of intimacy as closeness and familiarity. As I look across standard examples and definitions, one thing is clear: intimacy requires vulnerability. Yet somehow the word “vulnerability” has gotten a bad rap. We’ve misidentified vulnerability with weakness and put things in place to avoid being seen as such. The result is us doing “all the right things” based on ritual or tradition. Though these are necessary things, they don’t always allow us to really get to know the Lord. They are not a replacement for true intimacy with God.

When we come into relationship with a friend or spouse, we crave a certain level of connection. We desire to know as much as we can about the individual – their likes and dislikes. Similarly with business partners, we want to understand how they operate, what makes them move the needle of success. As new parents we take in everything about our children – counting their fingers and toes, breathing in their scent. All of these things point to intimacy. This is key in having a strong relational foundation. Likewise, intimacy is required for a strong relationship with the Lord.

Choose today to spend time learning true intimacy with Him. The intimate place is a safe place, one of power and true transformation. The intimate place is where you learn real love. The spiritual discipline of intimacy (seeking to know Him personally) should be our response to Him. A beautiful part of building intimacy with God is that there’s no risk of  Him not responding favorably.

When you share with Him, He will share with you. The intimacy is reciprocal, and this exchange of intimacy is love responding to love.

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
JAMES 4:8

Prayer Prompt
Father, draw me close to You! I desire to be fully vulnerable with You …

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Adapted from Remain in His Love: 90 Devotions to Help You Dig Deep and Draw Closer to God by Dr. Jackie Greene. Copyright © 2024 by Dr. Jackie Greene. Published by Thomas Nelson. Available wherever books are sold.

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