“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Heb 12:28.
When we talk about intimacy with God, remember this: God wants to be close to you even more than you want to be close to Him. James 4:5 (nkjv) tells us, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.” God’s desire for us is intense and unending. He created us to live in His presence all the time. David, in Psalm 139, reveals just how deeply God thinks about us: “If I were to count the thoughts You have about me, they would outnumber every grain of sand on this planet.” Think about that—every grain of sand, which is countless. God’s thoughts about you are even more numerous. Such constant focus shows how much He longs to be near us.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” For salvation, God made the first move. But for intimacy, the choice is ours. Our decision to seek God makes Him draw near to us. The depth of our relationship with God depends on us.
Some might think only certain people have a special closeness with God, but that’s not true. Intimacy with God is available to everyone who chooses it. So why do many Christians not experience this closeness? It often comes down to missing a key element: reverence. Psalm 89:7 says, “God is greatly feared in the assembly of the saints and held in reverence by all those around Him.” Without reverence, God’s manifest presence isn’t felt. He has nothing to proof to no one. God only reveals himself to those who regard Him with genuine reverence, humility, and faith. He cannot be manipulated, induced by stuff or our hypocrisy (Isa 66:2).
The Bible distinguishes between God’s omnipresence—His presence everywhere—and His manifest presence, where we tangibly experience Him. John 14:21 says, “I will manifest Myself to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” To experience this, we need to honour God deeply. In worship, this means approaching Him with genuine respect rather than casual attitudes. Reverence opens the door to experiencing God’s presence. It’s about acknowledging His holiness and approaching Him with awe. This attitude changes our interactions with Him, making His presence more palpable and impactful in our lives.
So, cultivate reverence by meditating on God’s greatness and approaching Him with respect. Recognise that God is both a loving Father and a sovereign King. Without this reverence, even the best efforts in prayer and study can fall short. True intimacy with God starts with honouring Him above all else.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk