Cultivate Intimacy with God
I often advise people to work on their “vertical alignment” with God. To just go through the motions of going to church, reading the Bible, attending a home group, and hanging out with other Christians doesn’t guarantee we will mature in our faith. God will bring us into progressively deeper intimacy as we seek him daily.
It’s critical to cultivate personal intimacy with God because his presence is what empowers us, anoints us and keeps our hearts aligned with his heart. Seeking God is a life-long commitment.
As I wrote in Take Charge of Your Destiny,
Dr. A. W. Tozer says, “We pursue God because, and only because, he has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.” An urge—planted within your heart. An undeniable, unavoidable urge, a longing, desire, passion, and obsession compelling you to keep seeking the One who blesses you with the very desire spurring you on. Don’t let anything keep you from pursuing God! You were created to know Him as deeply as you’re willing to go.”
When we give our lives to Jesus as our Lord and Savior we receive the greatest gifts we could hope to receive in this life or the next—our sins are forgiven, God’s wrath is satisfied, and our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The writer of Hebrews tells us,
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
What greater reward could we ever receive than forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life in heaven with God?
There is nothing greater.
Once we come into a relationship with Father God we are in it forever. King David tells us,
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:9- 10).
Seeking God is a life-long adventure. It begins with a simple step of faith and culminates in an eternal relationship with our loving heavenly Father. Until we go to heaven we live to serve God and those around us here on earth. We will all experience ups and downs in our journey, but we must always remember that heaven awaits the sons and daughters of God.
The writer of Hebrews says that our forebears in the faith are a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on. It motivates me to know that we are appreciated by heaven’s citizens.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (12:1-3).
Isn’t it amazing to know that the Creator of the universe wants to have a personal relationship with you?
It may seem unbelievable, but there are hundreds of millions of people on our planet who have asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior! The body of Christ is a formidable force for good.
How can you help others receive the blessing of eternal life? Encourage them to passionately seek Jesus! Remember if anyone passionately seeks God they will find him — He’s waiting for all who seek him in faith.
More Next Week….
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