We are wired for intimacy with God

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Songs of Encouragement   CURRENT TV SERIES Songs of Encouragement

We love because he first loved us. —1 John 4:19 If you’ve ever suffered any degree of loneliness, you know that we were not made to live alone! God wired us to experience love—both to give it and to receive it. We need intimacy… the sharing of love and life with another. When God saw that Adam was alone, he created Eve.  Now, you may not feel cut out for marriage, but you are still created for intimacy. And God prepares opportunities for intimacy in a variety of ways. The Bible says God sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6) to help us meet this innate need for community. For many Christians, fellowship in their local church helps fill the need. But human relationships alone cannot really satisfy the need for intimacy. That’s because we’re wired first to be intimate with God. This is why so many people feel separated and cut off from life and cut off from a valuable future. They don’t have a relationship with God. When you feel disconnected from life and purpose for no apparent reason, when you sense that nagging, empty, itching loneliness that draws you to something beyond human relationship, seek intimacy with God. You were made to know him. He knows your name and he’s calling your name today. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).    ONLY GOD CAN SATISFY THE HEART’S DESIRE FOR INTIMACY.

The Key to Overcoming Obstacles

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”
Numbers 14:7–9

There is an old story about a shoe salesman in the days of the British empire who was sent to begin a new branch of the business in an African nation. A few days after he arrived, he sent a telegram home, announcing his resignation. “This place is hopeless for the shoe business. Everyone goes barefoot.” Undaunted, the company sent out a replacement. A few days after he arrived, he too cabled a message home. “Send more shoes. The market is unlimited!”
All of us face obstacles and difficulties in the course of daily living. This is not because of some special attack of Satan (although that sometimes happens) or a judgment on us. It is simply part of living in a broken world. Things are going to go wrong, and there are going to be problems. That is not the question. The question is how we will respond. Will we allow ourselves to be discouraged, or will we realize that God’s promises are still in operation and we can trust Him for victory?
When the ten spies gave a discouraging report, the Children of Israel refused to enter the land, despite the impassioned pleas of Joshua and Caleb. Rather than focusing on the giants and the walled cities, those two faithful men were focused on God. They realized that if God was on their side, there was nothing to fear from any obstacle.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Do not allow any obstacle to convince you to take your eyes off Jesus, and you will find victory.