By Sister Ola Ajayi
What is Intimacy :Intimacy is a close, personal connection that goes beyond surface interaction, involving the sharing of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is marked by trust, vulnerability, and mutual understanding and can be emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual.
Let me define what intimacy with God means in the Christian faith: it is a deep, personal connection built on trust, prayer, Scripture, and worship. This relationship fosters spiritual growth, understanding, peace, and purpose.
One crucial insight I often share is that no matter how many sermons you hear, how frequently you attend church, serve within the congregation, or pray, if you don’t take intentional time to read the Word of God and cultivate a personal relationship with Him, much of this may feel unfulfilled. I liken it to a student who relies solely on classroom lectures without investing extra effort to study and seek understanding independently; such a student will struggle to succeed. As believers, we must go beyond the basics. True intimacy with God requires active engagement—through regular Bible reading, prayer, and reflection. Without these practices, how can we truly know Him?
While God does speak through dreams and visions, relying solely on these without a foundation in His Word is insufficient. Dreams, visions, and spiritual impressions require discernment, which can only be sharpened through deep familiarity with Scripture. Genuine interpretation comes from the Holy Spirit’s guidance, which aligns our understanding with God’s truth. We must remember, too, that Satan can appear as an angel of light, attempting to mislead even the faithful. Without God’s Word residing in us, distinguishing between truth and deception becomes challenging.
The book of James 1:14 underscores this struggle, noting that we are tempted not by God, but when we are drawn away by our own desires. The flesh continually battles the Spirit; without a close, committed relationship with God, we risk faltering. Developing intimacy with God is essential, as it strengthens our spirit to overcome the flesh and its distractions. Though the heart may be willing, the flesh often pulls us away from the path of discipleship, tempting us to waver. To follow Christ daily and carry our cross, we need His strength, wisdom, and guidance. This relationship fuels our resolve, making us resilient in faith and ever aware of His presence.
Building intimacy with God is essential because many Christians try to shape their faith based on instructions God gave to others. This is problematic because God’s guidance can be highly personal. My instructions from God may be tailored to my spiritual growth or to keep me from drifting from Christ, and these might not apply to you at all. Your path could be entirely different. As I often say, even identical twins have unique differences that set them apart, so we must each seek God personally.
I believe this is why the veil of the temple was torn when Jesus was crucified—to give each of us direct access to God. Throughout the Bible, God communicated with His prophets in unique ways. Some were called “Son of Man,” some were addressed by name, and others even received new names. This individuality underscores the need for each of us to build our own relationship with God.
Listening to preachers is valuable for encouragement, but we cannot rely solely on them. When people say they were led astray or lost faith because of a pastor’s actions, it often reflects a lack of personal knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. True intimacy with God protects us from deception and helps us grow in a way that’s authentic to our unique relationship with Him.
In conclusion, intimacy with God is built on trust, heartfelt prayer, worship, and Scripture, bringing peace, purpose, and alignment with His will. Without the Word, we risk faltering. Matthew 12:43-45 warns that if an evil spirit returns to an empty heart, it can come back stronger. This is why the Bible urges us to put on the whole armor of God, which protects us from temptation, discouragement, and lies, keeping us firm in belief and God’s Word (Ephesians 6 vs 10-17).
