We are in love with God always. We express our love and affection towards Him. Sometimes we may make quarrel too. All of them are based on our deep relationship with God. Here are some steps to experience an intimate love relationship with God.
Step 1: God Has No Contenders
Think about a spinster who waits for a good husband. She might have fallen in despair as God doesn’t provide a partner in her 40s too. She may be tired of praying and waiting and waiting and waiting, but most of all she was convinced that her life was somehow less-than. “Being single is not an abundant life!” she stated emphatically.
The first step to developing an intimate (and fulfilling) love relationship with God is to admit that the abundant life He promises will never be found in another person. Instead, as the definition of life shows, true abundant life is internal and it’s found in Christ alone.
Don’t get me wrong; God created us to experience human love, and romance can add a wonderful dimension to life. But romantic love will never be able to trump an intimate love relationship with God. Frankly, God likes it this way because He doesn’t want any contenders for your heart; He’s jealous for your affection (Ex. 34:14).
Step 2: Intimate Love Relationship With God is Personal
Some things with God are so personal, so intimate. We cannot be described with words, but can only be felt with the heart. This is how true intimacy with God is; we feel that no one else can really understand the special bond that we share with Him because it’s altogether personal.
If you haven’t ever committed yourself to a personal relationship with Him, it’s not fraught with difficult requirements and religious duties. He doesn’t ask that you change yourself before you commit yourself to Him; He just asks that you come as you are, confess your sin to Him, recognize your need to have your sins forgiven, and accept His gift of forgiveness that He has offered to you through His death on the cross (Matt. 27:1-66, 2 Cor. 5:21). After you have done this, you can begin a life-long conversation with Him which is part of the abundance of zoe.
Step 3: Talk With God
The relationship with God is the same as the relationship with other persons in our daily lives. Conversing with Him happens through reading the Bible (His main way of communicating with those who love Him) and prayer (a two-way conversation between you God).
When you pray, God is not asking for a formula; He doesn’t want you to pretend to be something that you are not. He doesn’t want you to only praise Him, never ask Him for anything, or to say particular phrases to make yourself sound “religious.” Instead, He just wants you to tell Him what is on your heart and mind, just as you would with a trusted friend (1 Peter 5:6-8).
As you pray, you will learn how to hear God’s voice, just as Jesus says those who know Him do (John 10:27-29). However, remember that it takes time to learn how to accurately hear Him. Sometimes you may know He is speaking to you through the Holy Spirit, other times you may not be sure. But the more you understand who God is through His Word and your mind is changed, the more you will be able to discern when He is speaking to you and when He is not (Rom. 12:2).
Step 4: Be Patient
Remember that developing intimacy with another person takes time, so it is the same matter with a relationship with God too. As you grow to trust Him and believe what He says in His Word more and more, your love affair with Him will become increasingly fulfilling and the abundance of zoe will grow inside your spirit and soul.