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I’m reminded of the mention of Enoch in the Bible, where it says, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24, NIV). The letter to the Hebrews (11:5, NIV) also mentions that Enoch didn’t experience death because he walked with God: “He could not be found because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
Enoch had an intimate fellowship with Almighty God. God has the same heart, desiring this type of closeness and relationship with us.
Approach God intentionally, recognizing that you are coming before a Living God who knows everything about you (see Psalm 91) and loves you unconditionally. God is a Person. When you speak to Him, keep in mind that our God perceives you as His own child and listens to you. Avoid wandering with thoughts but focus during prayer and worship.
The Word of God says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)
When you approach God, you enter the spirit realm. The Bible says:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV)
Set time aside for God by establishing morning and evening routines, and maintain communication throughout the day. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you of your dedicated time with God. Demonstrate to God that you are a good steward of time, not only communicating with Him between your daily activities but also having a dedicated time to seek His presence. When you do that, don’t treat it as a religious activity or a checklist to be ticked by the end of the day, but rather as a routine that you enjoy with God.
Expect God to respond. Separate yourself from the noise, sit in silence, and anticipate His voice. Maybe a Bible verse will come to mind, or you’ll have a God-inspired dream at night. Expect to hear from Him.
Our flesh becomes impatient quickly. It desires pleasure and gratification, and we crucify our flesh by submitting it to God in prayer. During your time with God, do you feel the urge to reach for your phone? Checking for messages or just scrolling through social media? Perhaps you feel like watching Netflix or suddenly realize what groceries you need to buy. This is our flesh screaming. Wait. Wait on God…
Mary provides a beautiful example of sitting at Jesus’ feet, found in the Gospel of Luke 10:38-42 (NIV).
Engage actively with the Bible. Reflect on it, highlight passages, read aloud, and declare its truths over yourself and your circumstances. The Bible is a living Word. By reading it, we fellowship with God. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths of the Word to us. Intimacy in fellowship with God requires us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
Don’t let negative emotions keep you from experiencing God’s peace and joy. Sometimes, we can be overwhelmed by heavy negative emotions—perhaps a challenging client at work or someone who has hurt your feelings. I find it helpful to present my emotions to God, speaking to Him as I would to a friend. At times, we may need to forgive others or ourselves. Quite practically, after a difficult situation, it is helpful to go for a walk or exercise. Then, resist negative thoughts. Shift the atmosphere with worship songs, prayers full of adoration, or Biblical declarations. You will feel uplifted and peaceful.
If you sin, repent. Receive His forgiveness and forgive yourself and those who hurt you. Remember, God looks at your heart—keep it pure. A great example of this is Joseph. He found himself in a tempting situation with Potiphar’s wife, yet he physically ran away from the temptation and sin (Genesis 39:7-12). If we identify areas of struggle, sometimes it’s necessary to physically remove ourselves. In times of failure, we must remember that there is no condemnation for us; our identity is not rooted in our sinful nature but in Christ. We are no longer defined by our sins; we are children of God. We repent and graciously receive His forgiveness. I know sometimes its difficult to forgive yourself but let’s choose to believe and act on the Word of God.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” John 1:9 (NIV)
Write down your thoughts, impressions, questions, and prayers. Use devotionals and tools that glorify God, helping you stay focused on the track with Him. As you pour your heart onto the pages, the act of writing itself becomes a form of prayer, helping you focus and articulate your innermost desires, gratitude, and supplications. It also allows you to track the time, and you can look back and see answers to prayers. We recommend that you set time aside to journal every day.
Through the journal, we’ve revisited our past prayers and challenges, witnessing that they no longer exert any influence on our present lives. We can clearly see the impactful work of God throughout our journey.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)