Intimacy with God
Do I have it? Don’t I have it? I’m told I need it.
All I know is that intimacy is a willingness to be close and open to someone else. This feels risky. It makes us vulnerable to receiving wounds but also growing deep lifelong relationships.
With God I acknowledge that he is near me and even in me. I am completely vulnerable even when I am unaware. This may even be necessary at times in order to function in this world.
Rather than intimacy, which is a given for all who have opened their lives to God who sets them on his path, I think we need to be thirsty more.
Also I need —
Hunger.
Struggles.
Mystery and Confusion.
To serve others.
Quiet after Noisy Times.
In all of this God is able to make himself known.
I don’t know how he does it, only that he does, and that it is very personal and very intimate.
Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5-10 (ESV)
The words from Lamentations 3:22-23 immediately spring to mind because we sang it so often as a praise song. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."