CHARIS MINUTES
Watch the video to hear Carrie’s full answer to ‘How do I have intimacy with God?’
What does it mean to have intimacy with God and how do we experience this? In this Charis Minute, Carrie Pickett highlights a Scripture that the practical outworking of our relationship with God centres around. Unpacking this Scripture we see the key to building intimacy with God and that it’s possible to be working on that intimacy during every decision we face.
When we say intimacy with God what does that mean?
It sounds like a good thing but what does intimacy with God mean? We’re talking about a relationship with God through personal, sustained over time, experience.
It truly comes down to Proverbs 3:5-6,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
(ESV)
This is one thing I’d really like to encourage you all in is that there are straight paths that God has for you. You may feel like things have been more like a roller coaster in your life right now but I tell you there are straights paths.
On the straight paths that God is giving you there is absolute clarity, direction, security, and provision. Receiving these straight paths means we acknowledge Him in all our ways.
I think why things get so hectic is we are trying to direct so much of our lives ourselves. This may be because we may be told as we’re growing up that directing our lives, making decisions, calling balls and strikes, and getting disciplined, is all how we do it. Consequently, when we take directing our own lives into our own hands we miss out on the leadership of the Holy Spirit and our relationship with God in everyday matters.
How do I have intimacy with God through the decision-making of life?
When we talk about intimacy with God, it’s about how we acknowledge Him in all of our ways. So that means in every single area of your life. This is powerful. Even the mundane things you don’t think are important to God. God wants to bring clarity in all of it. Why?
When we have clarity in the mundane we have room for the manifestation of God’s purpose in our day.
When it comes to having intimacy with God, a relationship with Jesus, you and I get to choose. We get to choose if we are going to acknowledge Jesus or are we going to do it our own way. So how do you choose? You make the choice with your priorities.
You may say that your family is a priority. You may say that your health is a priority. You may say your marriage or relationships are priority. You may even say God is a priority. The truth is what you give your time to makes it a priority. Before that, it is just an intention. Intimacy with God moves from intention to priority by the application of your time. It comes down to your choice, your will. It’s also the part of you that can surrender to the leadership of the Holy Spirit so that He helps you choose the right things. So to answer the question of how to have intimacy with God, we need to use our will and make the decision to give time to relationship with God. Surrender our will to the leading of the Lord.
I have a devotional journal to help you on your search for more intimacy with God, you can order a copy here.
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Audrey Mack combines Scripture with a personal anecdote to help teach us how to know the voice of the Holy Spirit.
How Do You Show Grace To Someone Who Is Causing Problems?
How do you show grace to someone who is causing problems but at the same time use wisdom? Greg Mohr shares a valuable insight into showing grace with wisdom.
How Can You be a Doer of the Word?
How can you be a doer of the Word? What does it look like to apply Scripture to everyday life? Answered by Carrie Pickett of Charis Bible College.