Intimacy is word that’s commonly feared among millennials and churches alike. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about intimacy? Sex, probably. And sex is subject that no one likes to talk about in church or mixed company. We know intimacy is achieved through sex (between a married couple), but is that the only way we achieve intimacy? Aren’t we supposed to have intimacy with God? What about our friends and family? How does that work?
A big part of intimacy is quality time. I mean that’s how you get to know someone, right? You spend a good amount of time with a person you want to get to know. Whether it’s friends, family or God you should want to spend time with them so you can get to know them on a deeper level. Take your friend or family out and do something they love. Spend that time with them in their environment. You can learn so much about a person by watching them do or see something they love. If you want to get to know God, spend time in His word and talk to him. Spending time with you is God's favorite thing to do, and you may get to know Him a lot if you invest that time in Him.
The next step to really gain intimacy is listening. I’m not talking about listening just so you can answer a question or retort with an unrelated answer. I’m talking about truly listening. Put your phone down and pay attention to what is being said to you, and take it to heart. This step can get difficult when you throw God into the mix. How do you actually know when He’s speaking to you? How do you know when to listen to Him? Keeping your ears and hearts open are the very beginning. God speaks to everyone in different ways, you just have to pay attention.
The last step is understanding. If you are spending that quality time and truly listening to what the person is saying, then understanding shouldn’t be too difficult to grasp. If you don’t understand where the other person is coming from when they’re speaking to you, all you have to do is ask. Don’t be degrading and don’t be pushy. Understanding is what bonds together relationships. If you understand the persons wants and needs, your bond strengthens and grows. It works the same way with God. If you’re talking to Him and listening to what He has to say, you’ll start understanding Him. You may not always understand why God does something, but you should understand that God always has a purpose.
Into me see. See into me. It’s not all about a physical act, but it’s about quality time, listening and understanding. Those three things work hand in hand so well together, that they can create the strongest of bonds. Love flourishes is the presence of intimacy. So who are you going to see into next?
