3 Way to Grow in Intimacy – Part 3 – Living Obediently

“Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

I can still hear my Great Grandma Zwart singing the chorus to this old hymn. Little did she know she was planting a powerful truth in my impressionable heart on how to grow in spiritual intimacy with my heavenly Father. Just the other day the chorus came to mind as I was struggling with fear about taking another step of faith I sensed the Father asking me to take.

The last two weeks I shared the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4, reminding us that intimacy begins with Listening to the voice of the One True Father God and next we need to make every effort to keep Looking at His unfailing love for us in His Son Jesus. But if you truly want to flourish in intimacy the 3^rd step is vital, Living Obediently.

Hear the words of the Shema once again:

“Hear O Israel the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.”

That last phrase means to love your Abba Father with everything you got, which would be the Hebrew way of responding by living an obedient life.

I can tell you from experience that my greatest growth in intimacy has come when I have jumped off a spiritual cliff in obedience expecting the Father to catch me. He wants all of you, not just a part. He desires to be the one in complete control of every aspect of your life. When we hold any part of our life back we risk experiencing the overwhelming love and faithfulness of our Good God. He keeps calling out for us to jump into His arms, but believe me every time that first step scares me to death, but over the years He has never dropped me once. And every act of obedience has brought me to life changing experiences of His love that I would have missed if I stayed at the edge of the cliff.

Take a few minutes and sing these verses with me of the hymn Trust & Obey:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey!

But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay, for the favor He shows and the joy He bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way, What He says we will do, where He sends we will go never fear, only trust and obey.

What is the Father saying to you today about Living Obediently? What is He calling you to lay on the alter or asking you to let go of? Where is He asking you to follow Him and jump? Today Trust & Obey and get ready to fall into the everlasting arms of your loving Father who will never fail those who Trust & Obey!