New Depths of Intimacy
By Alice Smith
"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink . . . as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38
In Beyond the Veil, I shared that "information will not transform you. Formulas will not bring you into intimacy with God. A lifestyle of intercession must be cultivated and maintained. Your inner man is like a garden, and the disciplines of prayer keep it fertilized, watered, pruned and fruitful. Just as with any garden, time is needed for growth to appear. Seasons of difficulty and sunshine will be part of your lifelong development. But these seasons will force the roots deeper into the source of your strength –Jesus Christ."
The following illustrates:
A student asked the president of a school if he could take a shorter course than the one prescribed. "Oh yes," replied the president. "But then it depends upon what you want to be. When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years. When He wants to make a squash, He takes only four months."
God wants you to be an oak tree, not a spiritual squash. To become an oak your roots must sink down deep. If you are only willing to be a squash, your root system will remain shallow, and you will not have the vitality to linger very long in the Holy of Holies with God.
Do you long to be closer to Jesus? The good news is that there is a way to develop a more intimate relationship with Him. The bad news is that this closeness will require time and effort on your part. It doesn’t just happen unless you intentionally seek it.
When an old farm pump hasn’t been used for a while, the farmer must prime it in order for it to be used once again. He pours water into the shaft of the pump, displacing the air. Then, as the farmer thrusts the handle up and down, the suction created enables the pump to draw life-giving water from reservoirs deep below the surface of the earth. Soon fresh, clean water flows freely from the old pump’s spout, satisfying any who are thirsty. To recapture or to establish your intimacy with Christ, it may be necessary for you to prime the pump.
In prayer, you might begin to prime the pump with your love. Pour in love words and expressions of adoration. Express your love for the Lord with, "Father, you are so precious and I delight in you. Lord Jesus, you are everything to me. I need you more than I need my next breath. Holy Spirit, you are such a comfort to me. I appreciate the love, the joy and the peace you have brought into my life."