Psalm 63:2-9
“To see your power and your glory, so as I have seen you in the sanctuary. Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. Thus will I bless you while I live: I will lift up my hands in your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips: When I remember you on my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches. Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice. My soul follows hard after you: your right hand upholds me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.” (
III. GETTING TO KNOW GOD
The first step in our quest for intimacy with the Lord is to know who He is, what He does, how He thinks, and what He desires. Even if God is invisible and inaudible to our physical senses, a close relationship with Him is cultivated in the same way that human friendships are - through time spent together, communication, vulnerability and common interests.
A. TIME SPENT TOGETHER.
We will never be able to have closeness to the Lord if we do not invest time and effort to get to know Him. A neglected relationship simply will not grow in wealth or depth. Are you too busy to spend time with him every day? If so, the immediate demands of your schedule rob you of an eternal deep treasure - satisfying and wonderful communion with God.
B. TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION.
The most obvious way to get to know the Lord better is through two-way communication. But our prayers are often monologues rather than dialogues. We come to Him with our list of concerns, but how often do we takethe time to listen tohis answer? Although God enjoys hearing our prayers, He also wants us to be calm andlisten tohim.
Since I speak to us mainly through His Word, this is where we will probably hear His voice. Try to interact with the Lord through prayer as you read the Scriptures. Meditate on His words and ask-Him questions: "What are You saying to me? How does this apply to my life? " Then stay calm and listen, give-Him time to speak to your mind. Remember that everything He says will never be at odds with His writtenWord. The more you listen, the more you hear His voice, and soon your time with him will become your greatest pleasure.
C. VULNERABILITY.
Another important factor is our willingness to be open and honest, to expose all areas of our life to the Lord. No one can be forced into an intimate friendship with God. In fact, the depth of this relationship is limited by the extent of our transparency withit. Although the natural response is to reduce this vulnerability, we must remember that He already knows us inside and out and loves us more than we can understand.
D. COMMON INTERESTS.
If we want to grow in unity with God, we must learn to share His interests. He is always listening to our concerns, but we really care about His desires and needs? Are you more interested in the Lord or in what He can give you? Self-centered prayers, neglect of His Word and busy schedules send him an implicit message: "I am not interested in You!" If your relationship with the Lord seems stagnant, maybe you have drifted into a self-centered home that hinders your friendship with him.
No comments:
Post a Comment