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    Experiencing Intimacy with God
    Experiencing Intimacy with God
    Experiencing Intimacy with God
    Ebook119 pages3 hours

    Experiencing Intimacy with God

    By Women of Faith and Christa J. Kinde

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    About this ebook

    In our hearts, we all want to experience closeness with God. We want to know Him and be known by Him. We long to see Him face to face, hear His voice, and touch His hand. We want to hear Him call us His child, His friend, His beloved. Yet in all of our yearnings, we often miss the simple truth that God is already with us! He is already closer to us than any sister, friend, or other human being could ever be—if only we could have our eyes opened to this reality. In this study, readers will be challenged to come to this reality and see how the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives. They will be challenged to consistently meet with God each day and reveal their true selves to Him—the good, the bad, and the ugly—so they can develop a closer relationship with Him.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateFeb 28, 2017
    ISBN9780310684503
    Experiencing Intimacy with God

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      Book preview

      Experiencing Intimacy with God - Women of Faith

      images/img-9-1.jpg FOREWORD images/img-9-2.jpg

      Does God have a laptop? If so, I’d find it almost effortless early in the morning to connect with Him. The house is quiet (even the dog is sleeping!), the phone doesn’t ring, and I’m not feeling pressed to move on to the next thing.

      In fact, my favorite part of the day is in those wee hours when I sip coffee and have only my laptop for companionship. The world stops, no one is looking for me, and I’m not crazy-tired. If God had a laptop, that’s when I’d write to Him and pour out my heart.

      But since He has no laptop, I find other ways to meet and relate to Him in my innermost being. Quite honestly, intimacy of any kind doesn’t come all that naturally to me. I grew up in a large, loud, laughing, story-telling family. No one had quiet time alone, time to think or reflect. In the first eighteen years of my life, I doubt I was ever by myself. And intimate conversations with someone? Not that I remember. No one made eye contact in conversation; no one really listened or expressed much empathy or tenderness to one another. We all talked at the same time, interrupted each other, and laughed hilariously at each other’s stories. Fierce undying loyalty was our virtue—but intimacy? I don’t think so.

      When I came to Christ almost forty years ago, two things happened. First, I started forming friendships with people who walked with God, who prayed freely and openly about everything, and experienced intimacy with the Savior. I was intrigued and longed for that myself. Second, I began to notice that their ability for intimacy flowed over into other relationships as well. I observed real care expressed (more often than not, verbally) between believers. It was a skill I’d never learned, and one I mostly felt uncomfortable practicing, but I desired it nonetheless.

      Admittedly, I’ve had to learn intimacy. If you want to exchange stories or discuss ideas with me, no problem. That comes easily to me. But intimacy is something I’ve had to intentionally choose to practice. Feeling comfortable in the presence of God with all of me—the good, bad, and ugly—is essential to my spiritual life. Knowing He knows everything about me and loves me anyway is crucial. And I’ve learned that feeling comfortable with that is heaven on earth.

      When we show up, He’s there to meet us right where we are, to understand our needs and to invade our lives with His presence, love, grace, tender mercies, and direction. I find in the wee hours of the morning, as I sit with my Bible (and NOT my computer) open on my lap, I see the reality of verses like, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10 NKJV). Or, You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence (Psalms 21:6 NLT). A Bible study that can take us there is an essential tool, whether we use it alone or in a small group of others who seek a real, life-changing connection with Him.

      I’m grateful we have ways to connect intimately with God. I wouldn’t want to email Him!

      —Mary Graham

      images/img-9-1.jpg INTRODUCTION images/img-9-2.jpg

      Some of my favorite storylines are about a guy and two different women. The first gal is always the guy’s best bud. They’ve known each other since forever. He’s comfortable with her, tells her everything, trusts her completely. In return, she’s loved him since forever, but he’s never noticed. Then the second woman comes into the picture, and the guy is head over heels. In these stories the first gal is usually stuck in the position of confidant, comforter, and even messenger to the new lady love. But for love of her guy, she sets aside her own feelings and does what he asks of her. In the end, the guy’s eyes are opened somehow and he sees his dear friend in a new light. Startled to find love so close at hand, he berates himself for never really seeing her before. And of course, they live happily ever after.

      Many of us are blind to what is closest to us. In our hearts we long to experience spiritual intimacy. We want to know God and be known by Him. We long to see Jesus face to face, hear His voice, and touch His hand. We want to be close to God. We long to be His child, His beloved, His friend. We say we need a confidant and a comforter. Someone to trust and to tell our secrets to. We want God as our intimate—our close and personal friend. And in our yearning to be acknowledged by the Father and welcomed by the Son, we completely miss what is right in front of us. Or, what is right inside of us.

      Do you know the treasure that is already hidden in your heart? Are you aware of the riches that are already yours? Those of us who are longing for spiritual intimacy need to have our eyes opened. The God we long to be close to is already closer than any sister, friend, or lover can come. God, the Holy Spirit, dwells in us. Do you long for spiritual intimacy? This study opens up your eyes to the Spirit’s role in our lives. He knows us in intimate ways. Get to know Him!

      His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the

      most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself.

      Don’t take such a gift for granted.

      Ephesians 4:30 MSG

      images/img-11-1.jpg

      CHAPTER ONE

      KNOWING GOD

      AND THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT.

      John 17:3 NKJV

      images/img-9-1.jpg CLEARING THE COBWEBS

      images/img-9-2.jpg

      Is there someplace you go to so regularly that you know it intimately—backward and forward?

      Our family loves to go hiking. Nearly every weekend finds us packing up and heading out into the woods. Our favorite destination is a state-protected natural area surrounding a local lake. Trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty wind through the trees, skirt small ponds, and zigzag up steep ridges. The first time we found this park, we were awed. Each bend in the trail brought us to some new and lovely scene. Now, the trails are becoming familiar. The more we revisit the paths, the more well-known each landmark becomes. A fallen tree covered with white mushrooms, a seven-trunked tree skirted with moss, a bench with a plaque reading, Come aside and rest awhile. Each visit to the forested hillsides has yielded new discoveries as well—violets

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