Like any friendship, loving someone requires spending time with them to develop the friendship. God is no exception. You have to want to know God and not hold back. Then pursue him with your heart, soul, and being. God loves us. We are privileged to love him back. (sounds good)

Faith Expands when our CAPACITY to love grows.

We may have learned to love God through intellectual means without engaging the whole self. This falls short because it compartmentalizes faith. For example, should you love your children or mate with only your mind, that would not be enough. You can say “I Love You” a million times, but the words are not enough to carry the love the distance. (yup) Meaningful love is expressed through heart actions and a ton of caring, little pieces of life. My parents rarely told me they loved me, but I knew it and never questioned it. Their lives proved their love. (sure did)

Love for God that brings love to the surface of our being—where tears form even in unemotional individuals–is life-giving to all. When we love God with heart, mind, and soul, this love will produce love for others. (beautiful) Loving others is a natural by-product—for God’s love in us is regenerative. God helps us see others like he does—through his love for them. Love like this will give out love from its own love because it cannot keep the love to itself.  It springs forth. The love just ‘is.’ (do you give/love spontaneously? bingo)

God-life in SOUL-BEING is faith centered.

Good things are cultivated. (that’s how it happened for me) My love for God was encouraged through an ingrained habit, a weekly practice. When I was a school teacher, every Saturday morning found me sitting on the corner of the living room couch with my Bible, notebook and pen, a couple of devotionals in hand while sitting in the silence. I let the kids sleep in, but I didn’t. I made them Saturday breakfast when they got up (pancakes or waffles from scratch), but then went back to my focused time with God, which lasted until almost noon. (when I could take the time)

This was my favorite time of the week. I looked forward to this, and carved it out of my schedule as sacred. I prayed, meditated, contemplated, read scripture passages, studied Scripture, reflected, pursued God and his truths, took notes and wrote down scriptures and my thoughts about them. My heart, soul, and being were fully engaged in seeking, learning, knowing, and being thankful. I pursued God simply because I desired to pursue him while also apprehending his treasures and delights. God became precious to me in the process. (that’s real living; there’s nothing quite like it)

I HUNGERED for God.

God met me there every Saturday. My love increased as my intent caused me to be consistent in seeking God. These were sweet days. God became real as real can be. The refreshing part of this, which I didn’t have time for during the weekdays, was the time I spent in listening and in meditation, when my soul was ministered to in precious sweetness. Sometimes I was being convicted or corrected, but when God does it, you can accept it as loving and kind. (He’s a good daddy)

SUGGESTIONS for gaining intimacy with God.

1. Open yourself to God in a fuller capacity. Allow God to come close, drop the barriers (the things you don’t like to think about); shame, blame and bitterness.
2. Go through the book of John and underline the word ‘love’ with a colored pencil. Allow these verses to sink in and penetrate your heart and mind.
3. Contemplate God’s love, his loving actions towards you, others, and the world. Allow compassion for others to define these prayerful moments. Ask God to reveal your prejudices, wrong thinking, withholding of affection. (ouch!)
4. Absorb God’s truth in your inner being. Take a favorite verse and reflect on it. (sigh)
5. Remove what hinders your relationship with God. Ask him to help you. Refresh your mind. Seek the mind of Christ. (help me, Jesus)

You don’t want to be fake? (good) Then take the plunge. (go deep) Let me know when you resurface and come up for air. (gasp) Share out with our friends here. (please do) We’d love to hear what God is doing in your life. We’re in this together. I’m pulling with you. God bless you. (thank you)

Q & A: Have a question for me? Leave it in the comments.

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