Moving Toward Intimacy

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 (King James Version)

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 (New King James Version)

The words of Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost For His Highest, quickened my spirit this morning. He said, When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Jesus. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that Our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him. He managed to put into words the longing of my heart but lack of my own experience. Not lack of God’s desire and ability to give it but my own lack of receiving it fully. To be so satisfied in Him that I no longer look to former places of comfort and security. To be so enamored by Him that I no longer fix my eyes and attention on an individual. God’s offers are as good as promises waiting to be received.

As soon as I read the results of intimacy with Jesus I voiced to God my desire to have that and to know how to have it. God used something Sarah Young had written in Jesus Calling to infuse me with two necessary truths. She wrote on the topic of praise and I saw two things that were new to me. One is that God dwells equally in praise voiced in joy as well as in sorrow! To Him one is no better than the other….they are the same. Then she wrote something I needed to hear. She wrote that the joyous discipline of praise will help you live in the intimacy of Jesus’ presence.

To think that my praise, my celebration of who God is and all He does, is a dwelling place for Him and the way to intimacy with Him. It is the way to flesh out the abiding principle of John 15:1-4. While it is not the full scope of intimacy with God, it is certainly a praise worthy piece of the puzzle! It touches my heart to know that when I seek answers from Him, He gives them. He longs to be known and is willing to lead us into the knowledge and experience of intimacy with Himself. How I needed to receive this from His hands this morning!

Father, I don’t understand the full scope of intimacy with You. While I have progressed in my journey I have so long to go and so much to learn. Thank you for patiently and passionately guiding me. Amen.