It's a question that some people ask, especially those who have had difficulty with their faith or who don't feel close to God for various reasons. But the truth is, there are many reasons why having a close relationship with God is important in our Christian Life.
Maybe you've had a bad experience with a religious leader or institution in the past. Or, you had difficulty with your earthly Father. Unfortunately, you associate Father God with him.
Also, you may not have full biblical knowledge and realize that God greatly loves you. There are some who question the existence of God, and this hinders them from moving forward with intimate fellowship cause they can't get over that constant hurdle in their way of questioning.
Whatever your reasons, I want to assure you that it's possible to have a close and personal relationship with God. It is available to anyone and everyone.
After reading this blog, you will know why you should have an intimate relationship with Him and the benefits of doing so.
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Because God Desires It
Ephesians 1:4–5 (NLT) — 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Before God even made the world, He wanted a relationship with us. It's very important that you focus on that because He was willing to send his son to the cross to receive us into his family AND AGAIN, before He even created the world.
Let’s chew on this a little bit more and use parenting as an analogy. You might be aware of an indigenous tribe in Brazil out in the middle of the jungle. Currently, there are laws in place that no outsiders can contact them. BUT you want to reach them for Jesus Christ, and the only way is to sacrifice your own child on the cross so you can try to have a relationship with them.
I’m sure many of you who are reading this are thinking, this is crazy! How dare you even make a suggestion. I know, I get it; it’s hard even to comprehend such a thing. Let me be honest: I probably would not sacrifice my child to share the gospel with that tribe. I would come up with a million excuses. BUT get this: God was ready to do so with Jesus before He even got started. That’s how much He loves us and wants an intimate relationship with us.
He wants to have a consistent, constant relationship with you. Day in and day out. Not just on Easter and Christmas. He wants to be with us all day long.
I was trying to think of another way to express this. My wife and I are empty nesters. Our last one flew the coup about 7 years ago. Both of our daughters have families of their own. I love the empty nest life! I’m not one of those guys that love sports. I don’t have bro friends. My life is all about the Lord and my wife. My wife is my best friend! I’m one of those guys who want to constantly and consistently want to be with her. So when I go somewhere, I don't want to go alone. I want to be with her.
I know this may be a weak example, but I am doing the best I can, LOL. I’m talking about God and how he feels about us versus me. He is like X’s (times) a billion in how He feels about us. We will never be able to compare or comprehend it.
God doesn't want us separated from Him, gripped in sin, shame, sorrow, pain, death, and hell. He wants us all to come to the true knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. He sent Him to the cross to buy our salvation through Jesus His Son, our eternal life, and to be with Him for all eternity.
Because You Need It
Ephesians 3:16–19 (NLT) — 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then, you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
We need intimacy with God. It is the very essence of having a relationship with Him. Just imagine a marriage relationship without intimacy. To me, it would be like an arranged marriage. There was never any love there. You were put together by your parents; you had no say in it. Ultimately, you live your lives separately for the most part. Only fulfilling your marital roles because it was expected of you.
Consider this when thinking of a personal relationship with God with no intimacy. I wouldn't want that type of relationship. I want to know who the Lord is. I want Him involved in every aspect of my life. As I do, I become more fulfilled in Him and about life.
Ephesians 3:16-19 is a prayer from Apostle Paul for the people of Ephesus. To me, it's a perfect description of intimacy. He is praying for them to have a deeper understanding of God's love for them. Ultimately having a deeper level of intimacy.
1. You Will Be Empowered By The Holy Spirit
As you develop intimacy with the Lord, you will be empowered with inner strength through the Holy Spirit. This empowerment will not only help us live our daily lives, but it will also enable us to do things for His Kingdom. All the fullness of God should fill and saturate our lives in such a way that we reflect Christ Jesus, showing those around us who He is!
2. Your Roots Will Grow Down Into God's Love
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. See, again, we're talking about deeper intimacy. This scripture talks about spiritual intimacy. These roots will not grow on their own. James 4:8a tells us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” You must be actively developing your intimacy. You must be making efforts to cultivate your relationship with God. It is not a one-way street where He makes all the effort.
I had struggled with intimacy with God for many years. It's not like I pushed Him off; I have always desired a relationship with him. I have always chased Him, but to have an actual deep relationship with Him through intimacy. It was not something that came naturally to me. You may feel the same way. Also, there are people who have a natural, intimate relationship with the Lord. It has always been there from day one of their salvation.
3. Intimacy With The Lord Will Keep You Strong
Let's continue on; it says in verse 17, "Keep you strong." This is by allowing your roots to grow deep in God's love. Think of it like this. Consider a large oak tree. The roots of the Oak trees spread up to 3 to 7 times the diameter of the tree's crown. In most cases, Oak trees can withstand major winds and storms. It is the same with us; the closer we are to God, the stronger we will be in the storms of life.
It is so important for us to understand our need for intimacy. Don't allow the devil to distract you and pull you away from the things of God. For example, after a massive storms, I usually jump in my car and drive around to look at all the damage. I remember many times seeing huge trees lying on their sides. It's like the wind just pushed them over like dominos. Invariably, a lot of those trees were rotted on the inside. They were weak and sick. This is the same for us; by not having a deep, intimate relationship with God, we can get spiritually weak and sick, allowing the devil to push us over.
4. Intimacy Will Give You The Power To Understand
I don't know about you, but there are times I will read something in the Word of God that requires the power to understand. Case in point, when we talk about the love of God, it can be so massive and overwhelming to try to ponder on it. Apostle Paul is here praying for the people of Ephesus to have the power to understand God's love. Both you and I can do the same for ourselves. We can pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the power to understand it.
When you begin to understand His love for you, I believe it opens doors you once had shut. These doors hindered you from moving forward. I will be talking about this in a future blog. When you realize how much He loves you, you will begin to see how approachable He is and how much He wants to converse with you. I have shared this before; as I walk in the morning, I will be talking to the Lord about anything and everything. I just know how much He loves me. It is so refreshing to spend time with Him.
5. Intimacy Helps You Experience The Love Of Christ
From verse 19, "May you experience the love of Christ." There is something I love about being married to my wife. I know she loves me. I experience love with her on a daily basis. She is a night owl. and I am one to go to bed early. I love getting up at around 5 in the morning. After going out for a walk and exercising, I slowly open the door to our bedroom to see if she is awake. Many times, she will be, and her face is glowing with a big smile. It just makes my heart go pitter-patter. You would think this would get old after 37 years of marriage, but it doesn't. It only gets better and better. There are times when she will still be asleep. So, I will peek in on her multiple times until she is awake. Why? Because I love experiencing her love.
It's the same with experiencing the love of Christ, but way more. I can't wait for my alone time with Him. I get to be in His presence. It never gets old. I get to ask Him questions. I will worship and give Him praise. I get to mull things over in my mind and have the Holy Spirit help me sort them out. I cherish these moments.
To experience the love of Christ is to experience His willingness and obedience to go to the cross for you and me. We will experience the abundant life that is promised to us in John 10. 10. By experiencing Him, we will come to know Him more and more. We will have His guidance through the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. The benefits are endless!
Wrapping Things Up
Having a close relationship with God is of utmost importance for various reasons. Despite past negative experiences or doubts, it is reassuring to know that a personal and intimate connection with God is attainable.
God desires this relationship with us, and His love for humanity is evident in His willingness to send His Son to the cross. Just as a spouse cherishes true intimacy in a marriage, we should seek to know God and involve Him in every aspect of our lives.
Developing intimacy with God empowers us through the Holy Spirit, strengthens our roots in His love, and helps us understand the depth of His love for us. This understanding enables us to experience the love of Christ, reflect His character, and live a fulfilled life.
By actively cultivating intimacy with God, we find strength, guidance, and access to His unlimited resources. Let us embrace the benefits of intimacy with God and continually pursue a deep and meaningful relationship with Him.
Scriptures on Intimacy with God
1 Corinthians 8:3
Job 29:4
James 4:8
Jeremiah 31:3
Jeremiah 33:3
Frequently Asked Questions
What does God say about intimacy with Him?
God desires intimate fellowship with His people, as He created us for a relationship with Him. In the book of Genesis, it is written that God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, enjoying close communion with them. This reveals God's heart for intimacy and His desire to be known and loved by His creation.
Throughout the Bible, we see examples of individuals who pursued intimacy with God. King David, known as a man after God's own heart, sought after God's presence and longed to dwell in His house. In Psalm 27:4, David declares, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Jesus Himself modeled intimacy with the Father during His time on earth. He often withdrew to solitary places to pray and commune with God. In Mark 1:35, it is written, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." This demonstrates the importance of setting aside dedicated time and space for an intimate connection with God.
Intimacy with God involves knowing Him deeply and being known by Him. It requires vulnerability, transparency, and a willingness to surrender our hearts and lives to Him. It is not simply about religious rituals or external acts of devotion but about cultivating a genuine and personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.
God invites us to draw near to Him, assuring us that He will draw near to us (James 4:8). He promises to reveal Himself to those who seek Him with all their hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). Intimacy with God brings transformation, as we are changed by His love, grace, and truth. It is in His presence that we find true fulfillment, joy, and purpose.
God desires intimate fellowship with His people; throughout the Bible, we see the importance of pursuing intimacy with Him. It is through intimate connection with God that we experience His love, receive His guidance, and are transformed into His likeness. May we prioritize intimacy with God in our lives and seek to know Him more deeply each day.
What hinders intimacy with God?
There are several factors that can hinder intimacy with God.
Sin
One of the main hindrances is sin. Sin separates us from God and creates a barrier between us and Him. As the Bible says in Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." It is important for us to confess our sins and seek forgiveness in order to restore our intimacy with God.
Lack of Faith
Another hindrance to intimacy with God is a lack of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Doubt and unbelief can prevent us from fully trusting in God and experiencing a deep and intimate relationship with Him. We must cultivate and strengthen our faith through prayer, studying the Word, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Distractions and Busyness
Distractions and busyness can also hinder our intimacy with God. In our fast-paced and technology-driven world, becoming consumed with worldly pursuits and neglecting our spiritual life is easy. Jesus reminds us in Luke 10:41-42, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and will not be taken away from her." We need to prioritize spending time with God and make room for Him in our daily lives.
Unforgiveness and Bitterness
Unforgiveness and bitterness can also hinder our intimacy with God. Holding onto grudges and refusing to forgive others not only damages our relationships with others but also with God. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." It is crucial for us to let go of bitterness and extend forgiveness in order to experience true intimacy with God.
Not Surrendering
Lastly, a lack of surrender can hinder our intimacy with God. When we hold onto control and refuse to surrender our lives fully to Him, we limit the depth of our relationship with Him. Jesus instructs us in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Surrendering ourselves to God's will and allowing Him to lead and guide us opens the door to a deeper intimacy with Him.
Sin, lack of faith, distractions, unforgiveness, and lack of surrender are all factors that can hinder our intimacy with God. It is important for us to recognize and address these hindrances in order to cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Let us seek His presence, confess our sins, strengthen our faith, prioritize Him above all else, forgive others, and surrender our lives fully to Him.
Shawn Paul is an author and missionary who has been living and working in Central America for the past 10 years. He is passionate about living for Jesus Christ and inspiring others to do the same, which is the focus of his blog, where he shares his expertise in Christianity.
In addition to his missionary work, Shawn enjoys reading books, studying God's Word, growing plants and flowers, feeding birds, and keeping up with the latest technology.
As a writer, Shawn's unique perspective and passion for his faith shine through in his work. Shawn's goal for the future is to impact people around the world for Jesus through his writing and missionary work.