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We often hear about intimacy with God. We all want to be closer to God, although it may be unclear to us what that really means. Today we will taste some of that life, and I suspect that this taste will fire our hearts and bring us closer to complete loving surrender to God. And if you are wondering how to motivate people to pursue Jesus, then consider beginning with the idea of intimacy with God. Once people see the treasure, they will be more willing to “sell all they have” in order to get the treasure. When people understand what God wants to do for them, then they are much more willing to embrace your leading. John of the Cross was a 16th-century Spaniard who pursued and loved God as much as anyone ever did. We are blessed that he was also a great writer and could express his Continue Reading →

“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield” (Psalms 5:12, ESV). In the same way that a shield covers our body God’s blessings blanket our soul. The favor of God wraps the righteous. Consider the immense favor of God in all he does for us. Even if our “outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16, ESV). We have friendship with God, he Fathers us and guides us, he guarantees a new destiny for us, his Spirit lives in us, he gives us the inner peace that the rest of the world seeks, he gives us a place in his family with gifts to bless others, he gives us joy because we live in his kingdom. In all these ways we are covered, wrapped and engulfed in the favor of God. How often Continue Reading →

“You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” Psalms 3:3 (ESV). David declared this in the middle of a rebellion against his government. Under the New Covenant there are no official governments of God, but God is our shield today too. He is still the shield of our souls. Our soul will prosper if we abide in him. David wanted political and physical protection, which was part of the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant political and physical protection are not promised until the second phase of the kingdom of God, after Jesus returns. Until then we may be persecuted and harmed, but the New Testament still teaches that God is our shield. He will strengthen and protect us against the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3) and our faith is a shield against the Enemy (Eph. 6:16). God is our glory; he Continue Reading →

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” John 15:5 (NIV) Humans don’t do well if they think their life is pointless and unproductive. We want something good to come from our lives; we want to be fruitful. This is how God made us. When he put Adam and Eve in the Garden he told them to “be fruitful” (Gen. 1:28). We were made to produce good things and our soul will feel empty if we can’t do so. Moreover, we have a desire for deep fruitfulness. We don’t just want to build buildings, farm for food, or invent new medicines, although these are all good pursuits for fruitfulness. We also want to be fruitful in the hearts of others. We want to help satisfy the deeper desires for joy and peace in human hearts. In Continue Reading →