In layman’s terms, intimacy is defined as a deep bond of friendship or acquaintance. Everyone yearns for unconditional love and acceptance. We all wish to be cared for and loved for who we are.
We long for connections in which we don’t have to hide who we are or what we’re feeling for fear of being judged as less or inferior in others’ eyes.
For this kind of closeness, God is the true friend. We will find it difficult to be intimate with imperfect humans if we can’t be intimate with a perfect God. However, if we can be intimate with God, he can and will show us how to be free to enjoy the closeness in relationships that we seek.
It means we’re “never alone” when we have closeness with God. It denotes that we are in a state of tranquility. It implies that we are brave and capable of triumphing in any situation. John 16:31-33
After God created the universe, he said: “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”.
When God created Adam and Eve, He had this in mind. They could never have fallen if they had never eaten the forbidden fruit. According to Genesis 2-3, God travelled through the Garden and spoke with Adam and Eve, but when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their love was shattered. God was no longer the ‘love of their lives’ afterwards. Their hearts ached for themselves, for sin, for darkness, and Satan. But, thank God, it didn’t end there. God promised them (and us) that their connection would be healed right away. And He followed through on His promise! He sent His Son, Jesus, to mend this damaged relationship and return us to our original purpose.
The Bible encourages us to have a personal relationship with God (intimacy with God). Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”.
Having a close relationship with God means understanding that abundant life cannot be found in anyone else.
We are reborn of God after being saved. What a wonderful and delightful experience! However, regeneration is just the start of our spiritual journey.
The next step after being regenerated is to consecrate or give ourselves to the Lord.
It is a critical step in our lifelong walk with the Lord because it is necessary for developing intimacy with Him. Consecration to God is a response to God’s call to spiritual consecration. Making a conscious, willing decision to devote your soul, mind, heart, and body to God is what this means. This is a decision that requires willpower, intelligence, and affection.
So, how do we dedicate our lives to God and establish a closer relationship with Him?
1. Spend time with Him through praying and reading the Bible: Start by praying and reading God’s word regularly to create a personal relationship with him. We become closer to God when we devote our time to prayer and reading God’s word.
To be continued……..