Intimacy with God: Be Intentional Part 1

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines intimacy as: a. marked by a warm friendship developing through long association; b. suggesting informal warmth or privacy; c. of a very personal or private nature. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the definitions above. 

First, marked by a warm friendship developing through long association. James 2:23 says, And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God.” (NLT) 

Abraham became a friend of God through a long association which built his faith. Genesis 12:1-9 recounts for us the events that began Abraham’s relationship with God.  Verse 1: The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” Verse 4a: So, Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. 

As we continue through Genesis, we find numerous records of God having a conversation with Abraham as a friend talks with a friend.  (13:14-17, 15:1-21, 17:1-27, …) Each of these conversations built the intimacy between Abraham and God.   

Second, suggesting informal warmth or privacy; of a very personal or private nature. In Genesis 18 we find the account of God’s plans to destroy Sodom.  Genesis 18:17-19, “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” 

Here we see that God considered His relationship with Abraham as one of high value.  He demonstrated this value by including Abraham in His plans. We also read in the following verses that Abraham talked freely with God and was allowed to ask questions and intercede for Sodom. Abraham had reverence for God, while at the same time having warm, private, personal relationship with Him.  Due to his deep intimacy with God, Lot and his daughters were saved from the destruction of Sodom.  

We see Abraham’s trust in God demonstrated again in Genesis 22 when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar as a burnt offering unto the Lord.  Again, Abraham obeyed God and God came through for him by providing a ram to take the place of Isaac as the offering. 

We can find records of the relationships between God and men throughout the Bible and in each case, we can see that those who chose to seek intimacy were blessed.  Life wasn’t always easy, but God was always there to see them through.   

Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, says it this way, “The great God of the universe, the Creator of all things, desires our fellowship.” God wants to have intimacy with us; however, it is our choice.   

What does intimacy with God look like? While this is not an exhaustive list, I believe intimacy comes through our times in prayer, worship, reading the Word, meditating on God, and soaking in the Lord’s presence.  

Today we will look at prayer. Prayer is Life Creating and Life Changing.  In prayer we begin to: think God’s thoughts after Him, desire the things He desires; love the things He loves, and will the things He wills. 

There are many types of prayer demonstrated in the Bible.  

First, the Prayer of Adoration. Psalm 148:13, Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! (NLT) Adoration is defined as: a. deep love and respect, b. worship; veneration. This type of prayer involves our focusing on the greatness of God. 

Second, the Prayer of Thanksgiving. 1 Chronicles 16:34-35, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.” (NLT) 

Our prayer time must include thanking God for all He has done and will do in our lives. We thank Him for the answers to previous prayers as well as thanking Him in advance for the answers we are still waiting on. 1 John 5:14–15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (NLT) 

When we pray according to His will (in agreement with the Word), and believe in faith, we will receive. Therefore, we can give thanks in advance because we know He is answering our prayers.  

Third, the Prayer of Confession. Psalm 32:5, Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (NLT) 

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV) 

Confession must become a daily part of our lives. We all sin and fall short of God’s glory, thus, we all have sin to confess. It is easy to remember the sins we commit if they are “big” sins (I.e. lying, losing our temper), however, it is not as easy to remember or even take stock of the “small” sins we commit daily. These sins might include, having a bad attitude, feeling offended, grumbling and complaining... In our culture these sins are often seen as justifiable, however, there is no justifiable sin. If it is contrary to the nature of God, it should be contrary to our nature. We are called to be holy as He is holy. We must ask Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin so we can confess it and repent.  

Fourth, the Prayer of Petition. Ephesians 6:18, With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. (AMP) 

Petition is defined as: an earnest request.i   Matthew 7:7, “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.(AMP) James 4:2b, yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.(NLT) 

When we pray, we are encouraged to petition God for the things we need and let our requests be made known to Him. Yes, He already knows what we need, however, He wants us to ask so He can meet those needs.   

Finally, the Prayer of Intercession. Colossians 1:9-12, So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. (NLT) 

When we intercede for others, we are partnering with God to change the future. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Discipline says, “In prayer we are working with God to determine the future.” Further, John Wesley said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” God is waiting on His people to pray so He can move in the earth!!!  

Following are three Biblical examples of prayer. 

David: Psalm 63:1, You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you,   
my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. (NIV) 

  

Jesus: Mark 1:35, 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. (NIV)  

Apostles: Acts 6:4, Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word. (NLT)

 

Whether you have a designated hour in which to get alone with God, or if you pray while driving, doing dishes, laundry, rocking a sleepy baby, taking a walk, etc., prayer is necessary to developing intimacy with God. Jesus, who is God, prayed to stay connected to His Father while he was walking as a man here on earth. His example, along with those of David and the Apostles encourages us to make prayer an intentional part of our daily life.   

Works Cited:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petition