Intimacy In Worship
We are living in a time when Jesus is calling His church into a place of intimacy, a place of intimate worship, a place of sweet communion with Him. It's a place where it's just the two of you ... just you and Jesus. Everything else is quieted around you, as you unite your heart with His heart. As you determine to have such "intimate" times with Jesus, you will find yourself losing interest in the things of this world. You'll also find your interest in Christ, growing deeper and deeper, and your fellowship with Him, becoming more intimate. You'll begin to notice the things that once bothered you, hardly do any longer. You'll find yourself walking stronger in your faith, and not so troubled at every turn, as you once were. Yes, trouble does, and will come, but you'll not find yourself to be so troubled by those battles that come. Is it not a wonder that the Lord calls us to such sweet communion with Him, as it's in that very place where such important changes take place in our hearts, and in our lives. As I have been spending regular times in intimate worship with the Lord, I am finding from the book of John, Johns very words have become a very real experience in my own life:
"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 KJV).
It is that hope I have for my own heart (more of Him, and less of me). As I open my heart in reverent worship before Him, I find myself dying to the desires of fleshly gratifications in my life, and instead I'm discovering His resurrection life filling and flooding my heart. Oh, how I praise Him for such a work of His undeserved grace!
Let's take a minute, and look at what it means to become intimate with Jesus. First, let me say, the word "intimate" is no where to be found in the King James Version of the Bible. However, their are other words, such as "communion", which lead to the word "intimate". Let's take a look at a verse, that's calling or drawing us into such intimate worship toward our Lord.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV).
In this verse, we will address the word "communion". According to the Strong's Concordance, one of the words in the origional Greek translation for the word "communion" in this verse means "intimacy". From the American Heritage Dictionary, here are a few of the meanings of the word "intimate":
INTIMATE: Marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity. Relating to or indicative of one's deepest nature. Essential; innermost. Very personal; private. A close friend or confidant.
Now, apply what you just read with your communion, or intimacy with Christ. Are you close to Him? Is He your close friend? Do you find your deepest nature ... your innermost being, longing for Him? Is He your confidant? Do you bring everything that concerns you before Him in prayer?
If you are longing for such intimacy with the Lord, in your own life, then please consider spending time, seated at the feet of Jesus. Consider singing to Him. If you're not in the habit of listening to anointed worship music, begin to do so. As you do, God will lead you to the music that blesses Him, and touches your heart, as well. Consider raising your hands before the Lord, and blessing Him with Your praises, even of those praises start out as a "sacrifice of praise". You may even find yourself getting a bit radical a times, through the clapping of your hands, and perhaps even a dance or two, before Him. Keep in mind, King David did so. Yes, he got radically lost in worship, as he danced before his Lord.
Meet with Him. He's waiting. You will never regret doing so. After all, He's the best Friend you'll ever have, and the very Friend that gave His life for you. Surely He is deserving of our praises, and most assuredly, He's worthy of our worship.
Let's pray:
Father, draw us to come into Your presence. Free us, to be free before You, Lord. I pray for each reader Lord, that each one be set free by the power of Your Holy Spirit ... free to love You ... and free to be loved by You. May there be a hunger birthed in each of our hearts, to discover the very greatness of who You are, and may each of us be released and set free to worship You, with all our might, in Jesus, amen!
May His blessings be great upon your lives! Marcia
