I am often asked “What can I do to develop greater intimacy with the Father?” Like with most things in life we’re often putting the cart before the horse. Let’s examine why we want this greater intimacy?

Is it because our hearts are full of love, and have been stirred by the goodness of our Lord, or because we desire to have Him help us with our many needs in life and business? I believe we cannot always know our real motives and we need help from The Holy Spirit to discern what our real motives are. How can I say this?

Look at the words of King David, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.” Psalms 19:12 (NKJV). Here the Word shows us that we have secret faults, motives that we are not even aware of. We may be coming to God thinking we want intimacy because we love Him, yet deep in our hearts, we might actually be coming to Him for what we can receive from this intimacy.

I believe it’s prudent for us to come to God on a regular basis, and ask Him to examine us, and to help us clear out possible hidden motives, desires and offenses that cause a block in our intimacy with Him. This can be a scary exercise. I remember the first time I asked Him, being afraid of what He may show me. Secret faults, motives and desires, that I’m not even aware I have and that are an offense to Him. What I learnt was that we…

Serve a good, good Lord. I so love our Father’s kindness, because even when He shows us these secret faults, and He does. We can ask Him to give us a new heart, with new desires and motives. “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV). Notice the amount of times He says “I will”. What a great Father we have, so loving, kind, tender and full or mercy.

Let’s return to our original question, “How do I develop greater intimacy with the Father?” I do believe doing the above and working with God to remove what’s in us that offends Him goes a long way in our journey of intimacy with Him. It’s not that different to when we love someone and want a great relationship with them. If we continually keep doing things that hurt them, offend them, surely that cannot lead to the great love and intimacy we desire?

Think back to when you first fell in love. Really think back to a time you were madly in love. Oh, the wonder and the joy. You wanted to know everything about them, what they liked and didn’t like. You wanted to know their thoughts and feelings, what was on their heart. You wanted to spend your entire time with them. Why did you want these things? Because you fell in love with who they are . . . and simply wanted to be with them. You wanted to spend your whole life in a loving, kind, wonderful, fun and deeply intimate relationship with them? Yes!

Why do we then over complicate what intimacy with our Father looks like? Just as you would act in an earthly relationship that you desire, act the same towards Him. Reach out to Him in Prayer. Seek to be with Him. Show Him by your actions that you want to spend time with Him. Make Him your priority in life. Which life partner wants to always be last on the list for your attention and time?

Read His love letters to you. The Bible was written for you personally, it’s the Lords love letter to you. Imagine receiving a letter from your loved one, and never opening it? That would be unthinkable! What message would that send out? Make time to listen too. Imagine in your relationships what would happen if you were the only one talking, and never bothered to listen to your partners thoughts? That would be so rude, and show such a lack of love and care, yet we often do that to our Father.

We are designed for intimacy and relationship. Just as you would in the natural know what needs to be done to develop a deep, rich, joyous relationship with a life partner, simply do the same with your Father in heaven. The one who created you and loves you with all His heart.

As your intimacy with Him grows and you get to now Him. He starts to reveal more and more of His heart to you. I promise you this, you will discover how gracious, wonderful, kind and good He is. Then you’ll pursue Him, not for things, but simply because you love Him with all your heart, soul and mind. You simply want to be in His Presence, because of who He is. I wish this for you with all my heart.