"First Love" Intimacy

Written by Allan Mitchell for The Life

“…Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us… that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity.”– JOHN 17:21-23

Do you desire an ongoing intimacy with God? All my life, I’ve wanted to be close to God — not just as a familiar, feel-good acquaintance, but as a “first love” relationship that lives and thrives on a moment-by-moment experience of his power, presence, and peace. Even after many years of following Jesus, I realized, through some untimely, undesirable life lessons, that I can never settle for a stagnant faith and yet expect to experience deep intimacy with God. Sometimes, my forgetful, faithless heart marvels that an ongoing intimacy with God is even possible.

In John, chapter 17, Jesus’ prayer for believers reminds us that intimacy with God is not only possible, but is his desire. Jesus wants every believer to experience the same deep relational intimacy that he experienced with the Father. Jesus defines true intimacy with the Father and himself by declaring, “you are in me… I am in you … they also be in us … that they may be brought to complete unity.” This intimate, irrefutable interaction is God’s design and desire for every believer who prioritizes him as his or her “first love.”Are you experiencing a stagnant faith journey or spiritual discontent? Don’t allow life’s distractions or difficulties to affect your relationship with God. God designed us for deep intimacy. Don’t, however, confuse intimacy with familiarity.

Spiritual discontent momentarily subsides when we restore the “first love” relational intimacy with our Lord. Reclaim and restore a “first love” relationship with Jesus, and, one day at a time — one breath at a time —, you’ll begin to experience an insatiable, irrefutable intimacy with God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your ongoing pursuing affection. You created and redeemed me for a relational intimacy. Help me to prioritize my relationship with you above all else so I may experience that deep relational intimacy with you all the days of my life. Amen.

Go Deeper — Is anything blocking you from having a close relationship with God. Doubt, anger, hurt, a misunderstanding of the term “father” based on personal experience, a sin that haunts you? Spend some quiet time figuring out what it is. If you need to confidently speak with someone about this, consider talking to your pastor or fill out the mentor contact form.

Read Further — If a past sin is keeping you from drawing close to God, this article My Sins Are Too Great For God to Forgive? might be of help.