Do you have a game plan for intimacy with Jesus?
It’s easy to become distracted — especially during the era of “more.” The messaging of culture seems to bait our eyes in every direction except the sufficiency of real, simple, and meaningful intimacy with Christ.
Endless emails come rushing to your inbox during all hours of the day. Social media makes you worry that you are taking fewer or less “picture-perfect” vacations than others. There’s always another conference you could attend to make you more successful. Even the pressure to host more events and be more strategic can become burdensome in your ministry.
Not all of these things are evil. But “more” leaves us distracted, empty, and passionless when it becomes the engine that drives our lives. It’s tempting to become distracted by the “many things” and forget “the one thing worth being concerned about” (Luke 10:42).
Prioritizing intimacy with Abba is the source of healthy apprenticeship to Jesus and supplies strength to do purposeful and fruitful work (John 15:5). This is a foundational truth for all of life and ministry.
The Apostle Paul experienced the joy and freedom of putting all his chips in the basket of deep friendship with Jesus. That’s why Paul emphatically exclaimed, “Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it as garbage. All I want is Christ” (Philippians 3:8 CEV).
But how can you cultivate a life that’s fueled by intimacy?
Jesus Teaches Us How to Have Intimacy With God
Jesus himself shows us how to live a life marked by intimacy. His personal and loving relationship with Abba is a model for all of us (Matthew 11:27).
Jesus shares that he is “the way and the truth and the life” and that access to God the Father comes through him (John 14:6).
Our Best Friend makes intimacy with Abba possible. By surrendering to Jesus as the Truth and following his way to abundant life, we participate in Christ’s experience of God as a loving Papa. Jesus invites us to get to know the Father through building a friendship with the Son (John 14:7).
But what might it look like to trust Jesus to share the Father’s love and care with you?
When Philip heard this invitation from Jesus, he brought up a similar tension (John 14:8). He hypothesized that seeing Abba more directly would satisfy his questions and longings.
But Jesus, who knows the path to God’s heart, replied by teaching 3 steps to greater intimacy with Abba:
#1 Believing Jesus’ words and works of love
Jesus starts by saying, “I am in Papa, and Papa is in me” (John 14:10 paraphrased). He takes his point further by saying that his words and work on the earth result from union with the Father (John 14:10).
Looking at Jesus’ words and works of love in the Gospels is to see his Papa loving you perfectly. Jesus’ invitation is to believe (trust) him as the flawless expression of God to move toward greater intimacy with Abba (John 14:10, Colossians 1:15).
Immersing yourself in the Gospels through spiritual disciplines like Lectio Divina or Ignatian Meditation helps you become enthralled with Jesus. These prayer practices guide you in engaging Scripture with your whole being as Abba’s affection sinks from your head down into your heart and body.
Meditation practices lead you to slow down your schedule and relax your body to prioritize loving Jesus. It’s one way to create an unhurried and focused space for God. Then you can go out and approach life and ministry from a posture that’s restful, present, and rooted in Divine Love (Ephesians 3:18).
#2 Partnering with Jesus
Jesus goes on to affirm that whoever believes in him “will do the works I have been doing” (John 14:12).
It’s valuable to remember that intimacy with God is not limited to alone time with him. The goal of apprenticeship to Jesus is to experience all of life and ministry in unbroken awareness of God’s love and kingdom.
Jesus tells us that the fruit of intimacy with God is doing the kind of things he did in the Gospels — loving well, ministering healing, and making disciples. This is not accomplished by performing but instead through participating in the work God is doing right now through the Body of Christ (John 14:12).
Working with Jesus instead of for Jesus cultivates an intimate relationship with God. This happens when you pay attention to his presence amongst you and others and talk to him as you work together.
You can train with Soul Shepherding to become a loving and relationally healthy leader who is dependent on the Spirit of Jesus through our Certificate in Spiritual Direction Training Program. Many pastors and missionaries are finding renewal in ministry as they’re learning to serve others from a deep and personal relationship with Christ.
#3 Asking Jesus for what you need from God
Next, Jesus promises, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14, emphasis added).
Jesus invites us into the kind of relationship where we can ask for what we need and learn to rely on God’s nature and heart for us. This suggests being emotionally honest in prayer (2 Corinthians 5:20).
It can certainly feel vulnerable to surrender self-reliance and trust the care of your Heavenly Father. But getting honest about your hurts, needs, and longings is the road that leads you deeper into God’s heart (Psalm 26:2-3; 34:18; James 4:6).
Talking to a soul friend or spiritual director offers a safe place to open up and receive Jesus’ empathy. It also offers guidance for your prayer life. This practice trains you to be emotionally honest and open your heart to embrace Jesus’ love through one of his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
A Real-Life Example of Intimacy With God
These three steps make intimacy with God practical and doable instead of hopeful or idealistic. For example, I (Bill) practiced all of them recently.
During my morning meditation, I gazed at the lake near my home and imagined Jesus walking on the water toward me like he did with Peter and the disciples (Mark 6:48).
The words Jesus spoke during another storm at sea settled into my heart. I repeated the phrase “Peace be still” over and over again and trusted they were for me (Mark 4:39).
Then I went to work, recorded two podcasts, connected with pastors, and wrote a devotional. I periodically paused to pray and attune to Jesus’ presence to resist “making things happen” and instead partner with the Spirit.
Later, a nasty storm of conflict blew into my day, making me extremely anxious. But then I remembered Jesus walking toward me on the stormy seas.
A close friend prayed with me after I shared honestly about what happened and how anxious I felt. Putting words to my feelings of frustration, fear, and shame helped me explore the sadness and grief buried underneath the loss I experienced.
Being emotionally vulnerable helped me to trust Jesus and embrace comfort and strength from his Papa. Getting in touch with the Father’s heart led me to pray for others affected by the conflict and look to God to guide us through the storm.
This picture of intimacy with God is refreshing because it’s raw and real. Godly intimacy is not always warm and fuzzy — it includes working through stress, confessing sin, and taking courage to follow Jesus into messy situations. But this honest and vulnerable journey inward is how you make yourself at home in Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:16-19).
I pray you’ll be able to grasp the depths of God’s love for you.
You might try checking out one of the resources linked above to cultivate deeper intimacy with Jesus. We’d also love for you to join us at a Soul Shepherding Institute retreat to go deeper with Jesus in emotional honesty and loving ministry.
