Hello Blog Bestie, How are you doing today? I think it has been a while since I asked this question. How was your entire week and How do you plan to spend this wonderful weekend?
Today I am going to be pouring my heart to you *not like I don’t do that* 😅 but let’s just say I am going to pour my heart to you more.
First, what is Intimacy? According to Google; Intimacy is a feeling of being close, emotionally connected, and supported. It means being able to share a whole range of thoughts, feelings, and experiences that we have as human beings.
Through the course of this week, I have been asking myself, is it enough to just study the word and pray to become more intimate with God? Is there more to it than just fellowshipping with other believers and attending prayer meetings and conferences? Would my studying the Word really build a more intimate relationship with God?
While I had all these thoughts, I was on TikTok when I came across a video where the pastor said that “Studying the Word of God is not enough to build an intimate relationship with God but obedience to the Word of God is what builds a more intimate relationship with God”. Because I want an intimate relationship with God, I don’t just study the Bible, I study to know and to obey.
There’s a scripture that says, do not just be a hearer of the Word but also a doer of the Word (James 1:22). I can’t remember who I heard this from but this person said “You asked the Holy Spirit to guide your life and to make certain decision and when the Holy Spirit keeps instructing you on what to do and you continue to ignore or disobey His instructions, eventually the Holy Spirit will give you chance to act as you like”.
So building an intimate relationship with God does not end with studying the Word or Spending time in prayer, it is also about acting on those words you received. Let’s say you read scripture on Forgiveness, about forgiving those who hurt you. It should not remain in just knowing that you should forgive, but take a further step to actually forgive that person in your heart.
Or you get a conviction of freedom from lust and sexual immorality and the devil tries to tempt you, instead of allowing it, you resist the devil (through the Help of the Holy Spirit) and the knowledge you now have. This is called obedience, you did not just listen to the sermon or message but actually acted on what you receive (freedom).
That is killing the flesh and growing in the Spirit, that is intimacy. You are saying Yes Father, I am going to follow you and leave behind my fleshly desire. I am going to do your Word and please You. (Obedience)
Let me give one more example of Obedience. You have an earthly father and they are certain instructions set in the house you are to follow, you know what your father likes and dislikes because you grew up with him and you have interaction with him. Now you know your father does not like places kept untidy and you are fully aware of that knowledge but still, you leave everywhere in an unkept manner. A very disobedient child can never be as close as the obedient one.
A lot of people can quote the Bible but yet are not living in that reality of the Word. Intimacy with God is beyond knowing or reciting it, It is more about acting on the word, gaining more light and understanding of the scripture.
Obedience is not deep but at the same time deep. Simply, it is saying yes I would do what you ask of me in the way you asked me to do it and at the time and place you asked me to do it not I would do it in my own terms.
I pray that you understand the message I am trying to share with you.
Intimacy with God requires your attention and intention. I mentioned in last week’s post https://journeywithomoye.com/2023/04/15/how-to-build-an-intimate-relationship-with-god/ that you should quality spend time in Bible study and prayer. I didn’t just say spend time but spend quality time, your full attention should be there.
Let’s say you are in a relationship, you would probably have an intimate relationship with your partner *I am not talking about a physical one*, you relate with each other and speak about both the important and less important things that happened to you every day. You trust and rely on your partner for things.
I attend a conference last week and one of the guest speakers said, “You can never know me, the way my wife knows me because we communicate and interact “ *not in his exact words*. Put that into your relationship with God. Daily interaction and communication with your Father outside of your morning or evening Devotion, build closeness with Him and share your feelings with Him, both joyous and hurtful ones.
All I have been trying to say is that Bible study, Prayer, and Fellowshipping with other believers build an intimate relationship with God but obedience, trust in God and Intentionality build a more intimate relationship with God. Let me end with this scripture Romans 2:13 – For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will declared righteous.
If this blessed you don’t forget to share and leave a comment below. It was lovely writing today’s post. I love you all but Christ loves you more and wants the best for you.
Till I write again…
Intimacy with God is more than listening and knowing but more of obeying. It funny how we at times ignore the importance of obedience.
This is both a reminder and a charge to me. Thank you so much Ma for sharing this.