Hungry.

I am still desiring a more intimate relationship with my Jesus everyday. Tonight I listened to what Charles Stanley had to say about it on one of His pod casts and then dug into Gods word about it myself, and I am so glad I did.
An intimate relationship with God is the number one, highest priority He has for us.
An intimate relationship with God demands something of us.
An intimate relationship with God goes way deeper than what you see, touch, or feel.
It goes way beyond the surface.
Charles Stanley brought up the whole "just being saved or going to church is not enough" spill. You know, the one we have all heard a million times. But, he explained it in a way that hit me hard this time, and I didn't simply brush his statement off thinking it didn't pertain to me.
He started talking about how we easily find ourselves being satisfied with all the surface stuff. Whether it is in a relationship, materials, food, or hobbies; but we fail to realize that our deepest hunger still isn't satisfied, even after having all the surface we can get.
Intimacy is closeness, or oneness. It is the ultimate purpose for which God created us. The Bible says, "Let us create man in our own image." Yes! HIS image.
Our ultimate purpose on this earth- to walk as Jesus did.
To have an intimate relationship takes work. Just like a relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or husband and wife, would.
We must:
1. Make it personal.
2. TRUST
3. Make it a 2way relationship.
4. Put forth time & effort.
Lets be real. If this were about a relationship with a guy I was considering to date, all of those would be A MUST and I wouldn't question any of them. So why is it so hard to remember these requirements for our relationship with the one who gave us life? Why do we make it so hard to love someone so lovable?
Make it personal.
God wants us to be open, honest, and free, when we talk to Him. It is more that just asking and thanksgiving. We should also be saying, "Here is my heart, Lord. I want you to see everything. There is nothing I am holding back or hiding from you." If one thing is true, it is: we cannot have a relationship with anyone with secrets.
Open your heart, completely.
Tell Him what is really going on in your life.
TRUST.
You cannot have an intimate relationship without trust.
It is the heart of our relationship.
If we trust Him, we will obey Him. When we obey Him, it is because we love Him.
Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey me."
True genuine love for Him goes beyond just simply saying "I love you, Father." Genuine love demands something of us, and if it is genuine, what it demands, will be natural. Out of love.
Make it a 2way relationship.
How do you know if your's is 2way? Simple.-
How long do you listen after you finish talking to Him?
Develop a listening heart. He will not deceive or mislead. His spirit speaks to our spirit, we just have to be willing to listen.
Put forth time and effort.
God is the source of every single thing we have, and we seriously have the nerve to tell Him we are to busy for Him on some days??
I always repeat this to myself, "The more you learn, the more you know and the more you know, the more you grow."
boom baby. #fact.
Only God can satisfy the human life. Therefore we must put forth time and effort towards our relationship with Him, just like we would with any other relationship.
He must be first.
When we develop an intimate relationship with our sweet savior we gain 4 things:
1. Stability- We become like and anchor when storms blow our way.
2. Security- He is not up there. He is inside.
3. Serenity- We gain a sense of quietness, peace & contentment with life.
4. Sensitivity- We become sensitive to other people and their needs. Natural Servants.
When we get rid of our barriers of pride, rebellion, and hurridness, an intimate relationship with Him can be found.
Charles Stanley said, "A day is going to come when our heart beats for the last time and we are going to meet God. Will you be a stranger to Him?"
My prayer is to thirst for Him as David did, a prayer of Psalm 63.
Dear Father,
Thank you for wanting a relationship with a sinner like me. You are so pure, holy, and perfect, all the things that I am not. Lord, I want to thirst for you like David did. I earnestly seek you, because your love is better than my life. My lips will glorify you. You are my help and I will cling to you. You are my best friend and I give you my heart. I pray that my treasure will always be in you and not in anything of this world.
I love you with all my heart, Jesus.
Your daughter,
Lexi