Kindling the Fire of Intimacy with God

Scriptures

James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17–18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Closeness with God does not happen by accident. Like any meaningful relationship, intimacy with Him grows when we are intentional. Think of standing near a fire on a cold night. From a distance, you feel nothing but as you move closer, you experience warmth, light, and comfort. The fire does not move toward you; you must move toward it.

God’s presence is much the same. He does not change; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we feel spiritually cold, it is often because we have drifted away. Drawing near to God through prayer, repentance, and worship places us once again where His presence can warm and transform us.

We draw near to God in several practical ways:

1. Praying honest prayers: These are not ritualistic, rehearsed, or copied prayers. They flow from a sincere heart and reflect real conversation with God.

2. Offering heartfelt worship: Worship that truly connects comes from the heart. God is Spirit, and He seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth not merely through form, but through genuine devotion and adoration.

3. Reading and meditating on God’s Word: Scripture is not meant to be read only out of duty or for information. We engage with the Word so that we may be transformed, motivated by our love for God and our desire to honor Him.

4. Meeting God in the quiet place: Learning to be still and listen for God’s gentle, quiet voice can be challenging. Many prefer to do all the talking in prayer or seek dramatic manifestations as proof of His presence. Too often, we desire a relationship with what God does (what He can do for us) rather than with who He is.

We do not take one breath in the morning and expect it to sustain us all day. Breathing is continual and natural. Our connection with God should be the same. It is not limited to a single prayer in the morning or evening, nor to worship once a week in a church service. It is a continual awareness of His presence offering short prayers, giving thanks, and walking with Him throughout the day.

God is always near, but we must choose to turn our hearts toward Him. He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking waiting to be acknowledged, welcomed, and invited into fellowship.

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