EXPERIENCING GOD INTIMATELY

Our true knowledge of God comes not only from intellectual study or hearing about Him from the church or Christian programs, but also from deep personal experiences we encounter with Him within our hearts. It is possible that we can gain a great deal of knowledge about God and His Word, yet never have an intimate experience with Him. When Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days, He saw a paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda. He went to the paralytic man and asked him if he wanted to get healed. Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. The paralytic believed in Jesus, and he was immediately healed. When the religious leaders saw the paralytic man walking and carrying his mat, they were angry at him for carrying his mat on the Sabbath day. According to the religious leaders, no one was allowed to carry any mat during the sabbath day. However, the man told them that it was Jesus who healed him (John 5:1-15). The paralytic man experienced the healing power of Jesus and had an intimate encounter with God, but the religious leaders never had an intimate relationship with God, even though they knew about the Old Testament Scriptures.

We can be religious, but it will not lead us to experience Him. The only way to have an intimate experience with God is to surrender everything to Him, repent of our sins, and obey His will. Our faith and obedience to God help us to experience Him intimately. I recall that before I gave my life to our Lord Jesus, I saw a difference between myself and those who had given their lives to Christ. I saw in them their intimate relationship with God, which I had never experienced. Although I attended church, I never experienced God in the same way they did. I felt I was on the other side of the fence. However, when I believed in Jesus and surrendered my life to Him, I began to experience His presence in my life. Through my quiet time with Him, prayer, studying His Word, and applying what I have learned in my life, I have come to recognize the intimate relationship I have with Him. When I face difficult situations in my life, I find peace and assurance because of my deep encounter with Him. 

We can all experience God intimately if we are willing to put our faith in our Lord Jesus, surrender our lives to Him, repent from our sins, and obey Him. God wants us to experience Him intimately, not only to know about Him and His Word. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What must I do to have an intimate relationship with God? Do I have an intimate relationship with God? Why is having an intimate relationship with Him important in my life?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, You created me to have an intimate relationship with you. Please help me to continue to draw near to You. I want to experience you in every area of life. I want to experience You in everything that I do. When I am experiencing you intimately, no situation can take away my hope, peace, and assurance in you. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.