Is Your Relationship With God Intimate?

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Do you desire to know God more intimately? Everyone does at some point in their life—even if they have been taught since they were a child that God doesn’t exist. Oh I know some would argue this point with me, but when you know God’s secrets, then you know what really goes on in people.

When God created man, He put His DNA within each of us. He did so that as we walked through life and would see His majesty in all the beauty of creation and life, that it would perpetuate two things within us. First this knowing that all that exists—all of creation, was not by accident. And secondly, that knowing it would create a craving within us to know the one who created all things. God created this craving knowing it would lead us to search to know Him in our heart. God called this craving within us the burden. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 (NIV) says, “I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

This word burden in the Hebrew means a humbling. We’ve been born humbled to have an inner knowing that we are here because of someone greater than ourself and humbled with a craving to know Him. People experience this burden or humbling to know God periodically through life if they don’t yet know God, and moment-by-moment if they intimately know God. Even many of those those that have appeared to hate God, have finally yielded to that they know is true in their heart and come to believe in Him.

The verse goes on to say, “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” God is the only one eternal—a truth our limited minds struggle to comprehend. It is only when a person gives their life to God through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit comes to live within them, that these truths can be grasped and appreciated.

And so, you were created to know God intimately and have a beautiful relationship with the God of the universe through Jesus Christ. When that happens, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal as much about God as you will seek Him for, and spend as much time with you as you will give to Him. And what does that look like?

First, when you go to read the Bible, ask God to reveal Himself and the understanding of His words in an ever-increasing way. There will be no ending to God teaching you about Himself, His ways, and secrets of life. God has always been willing to reveal Himself to those that sought to know Him. Isaiah 45:19 (NLT) says, “I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.” And, Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” And, Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” God is not conventional. To the sincere seeker of God, God will find numerous ways to speak into that person’s heart and life—all which will be beyond the realm of coincidence, and instead, bare witness and proof of a loving, intimate God.

When you read God’s Word expecting God to speak to you, you will discover through the scriptures that God calls those who’ve received Jesus as Savior, friends! And we all know that great friends share intimate truths and secrets with each other.

Jesus shared that very fact with those who became His disciples. One day He revealed to them that they were His friends. John 15:15-16 says, “I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide (intimate truths and secrets) to his servants. Now you are my friends since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

Almighty God is our friend. For some people, to have a close intimate relationship with a prominent figure would be so cool. It would be extraordinary if Phil Mickelson, one of the world’s greatest golfers were to call me and say, Tim, can you play golf and then have lunch with me? If he spoke those words simply because he viewed me as a close personal friend and just wanted to spend time with me, I would be awed! How much more mind-boggling is it to have an intimate relationship with the God of the universe? Moses did. In Exodus 33:11 we read, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.’’

So, the bottom line is this: pray that God reveal Himself to you through His Word and in other ways to the questions you have. Mostly expect Him to speak to you through His Word. He can hear you. When you learn to sense Him speaking to you through the scriptures, your relationship will go to another level. You’ll experience a supernatural friendship with Almighty God. He will reveal truths and mysteries to you that bring you guidance, wisdom, and great blessing. Learn to listen to Him and you will develop intimacy with God!

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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