Inner Thoughts With Abba

Have you ever met someone who you misunderstood because of what others said about them, but then came to know who they really are as you grew closer to them and discovered they aren’t all that complicated?

In understanding God, we can be like that. Some of us experience God through the eyes of others rather than personally. When you grow to know God for yourself, you see parts of Him that you couldn’t see through the lenses of others. You get to love His company and can’t live without Him. Knowing God personally helps to build a strong bond, just as knowing a friend differs from knowing a boss at work, since there is a bond, you form with a friend that you do not have with a boss, unless your boss is also your friend. I loved when God said Moses knew Him as God is.

While there is nothing wrong with the external lenses, we use to see Jesus, they are merely meant to be our first step toward knowing God. Before meeting God face to face, Jacob had knowledge of God through Isaac and Abraham. Knowing God personally allows us to experience His depths, which we can then share with others. When you personally encounter God, it strengthens your faith so that you may cling to that knowledge when trouble arises. Knowing God through personal experience is far more profound than knowing him theoretically. Because of certain encounters I’ve had with God, which were very real to me, I am unable to question His existence or who He is.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.

Ephesians 1:18-19

Now you might wonder how one will get to know God, like Mary what are you saying? We are talking about God. Well, it’s not that hard or complicated, do you know why? Because He wants that relationship with you more than you want it.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

God is more interested in having a relationship with us than we are. He wants to spend time with us and share His heart with us since we are His children. Yes, some of us may appear to have a relationship with Him, but we are more like Martha; we are preoccupied with a variety of concerns while ignoring the most crucial, which is spending time in fellowship with Jesus. Jesus wants us to emulate Mary’s posture and sit at His feet to learn from Him. He wants to share His heart with us and for us to share ours with Him. It is like a marriage between the bride and groom. He is the bridegroom trying to woo us into a relationship with Him, will you say yes to His proposal?

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Luke 10:41-42

While serving God in various ways, such as positions in the church or even the marketplace, it is critical not to overlook the most important aspect: the secret place. Our service to God should come from a place of fellowship with Jesus, where He even shares with us how He wants us to serve Him. Well done if you spend time in service, but let your service come from a place of friendship with Jesus.

I’ll tell you how I began to fellowship with God. I came to understand that the more I did this, the more intimate and closer to God I got. I can’t explain it, but I knew and felt it. It takes intentionality, just like it does with any physical relationship. I know it’s different because you can’t see Him, but it’s so similar.

I watched a Christian film called Ima & God about a girl who set aside time each day to spend in prayer and communion with God. She had a daily appointment with God, and when she spoke to Him, He answered her as if He were there in front of her. Though it was a movie, I knew this to be a reality that existed with God because people like Enoch, Abraham, and Moses (Numbers 12:6-8) experienced it. I yearned for this and prayed to God that I might be His friend and have that deep intimacy with Him where we converse, and He replies instantly, as if we were having a live conversation. I prayed for this for two days and He made it clear that, in addition to prayer, I needed to take the step of Faith of scheduling a time, telling Him about my day, and expecting a response from Him.

38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

Hebrews 10:38

This helped me to appreciate even more clearly the necessity of faith in whatever we do as Christians. It takes faith to trust that He will respond to me when I spoke to Him. Guess what? I started by telling Him about my day, how I felt, and simply being open and vulnerable with Him. He responded. It wasn’t an audible voice, but a voice in my heart. I realised that faith is taking the step to talk to Him and expecting Him to respond. You already know that everything we do is based on faith.

I also began reading my Bible. After reading, I talk to God about it, ask him questions, and wait for his response. I understand that at first it could appear as though you are not hearing much, especially if you are developing your hearing skills, but keep in mind that developing a strong relationship requires consistent commitment. Additionally, He might respond to you in ways you already know He does, such as via dreams, songs, the Scripture, or other believers. Continue to do your part while trusting Him to respond. A useful resource on building intimacy with God can be found here.

3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 33:3

I appreciate you sticking with me all the way. You may have read this and haven’t accepted Jesus into your heart or feel like you’ve lost your way in the busyness of life. I would like you to say this short prayer: “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Lord and personal saviour. I repent of my sinful ways. I say yes to your proposal. I ask that you come into my heart and make it Your dwelling place. Lord Jesus, teach me your ways so that I may know you intimately”.

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