Good day
In the previous message we took a look at some synonyms for the word intimacy, these included: belonging, nearness, closeness, affection, commitment, devotion, fellowship, faithfulness of a friendship or relationship. It also refers to trust or confidence, transparency and integrity.
I mentioned that to experience all of the above with someone, one would assume you've spent a significant amount of time with the other person to have developed the relationship to such a point that all of these characteristics become real and can be experienced by both parties. That this takes time and doesn't happen overnight. One would also assume that it took commitment from both sides, commitment to develop the relationship ... And that this is no different when it comes to our relationship with God.
We then looked at some passages in the Bible where it says to "draw near", "to seek", "abide" or "meditate" and how they all indicate the importance of having/maintaining a relationship with God. It shows us that we need to be focused, deliberate and intentional about this relationship. That we need to pursue this relationship. That we need to be committed to it. That we need to desire deeper levels of intimacy with God ... all of which tell me that we need to make time to be with God and take ownership for our part in this relationship ... I then shared some self-reflecting questions and asked that we all take a moment to reflect and ask ourselves "What does the quality of my time with God look like, and am I happy with it?"
To build on from the above, there are various components to how we successfully develop our relationship with God, whether it's through reading the Bible, attending church, attending small groups, reading Christian books, watching Christian teachings, having Christian friends, engaging in private times of praise and worship, prayer, etc. All of these help to cultivate that relationship (which we'll cover in this series in more detail) - but for today's message I'd like to start off with some practical steps we can take to help bring focus/priority to some of these areas:
Make an appointment with God - When we desire a relationship with someone, we purpose to spend time with them. Relationships don’t just happen. We have to make them a priority and not let other things take precedence. Seeing our quiet time as an appointment with God and being consistent with it helps us build a relationship with Him. So decide what time is best for you and schedule it.
Make the effort and Plan ahead - That may mean getting up a little earlier or staying up a little later but even 15-30 minutes can make a difference and can kick start the habit. Set your Bible, journal, and other things together in one place.
Eliminate distractions - If you know your cellphone is a distraction and you may be tempted to check your email, text messages or social media, then leave it in the other room or turn it off during this time.
Prepare our hearts - We prepare our hearts by confessing any known sin (1 John 1:9) and take a moment to acknowledge Him and thank Him for who He is (Psalm 100:4)
Be still - Focus your mind on Him. Be reverent. Be expectant. Think about what you’re doing and expect Him to speak to you through your quiet time with Him.
Keep a journal - Write out quotes or thoughts from your Bible or whatever the Holy Spirit lays on your heart so that you can always refer back to it in future.
Discuss - A good way to ensure you adhere to the above is to hold yourself accountable to someone or asking a friend or family member to join you and share in this journey.
An important component to all of this is never to give up, even if you've missed a few days, a couple of weeks, etc. There's always the opportunity to start over and begin again - God would want you to!
As we embark on this journey together, let's always remember to trust in His grace, love and faithfulness to help us each and every day.
Amen