An Invitation to Intimacy

 

I gave my life to Jesus in St. Louis Senior High School. 

I am very sure I had gone forward for altar calls many times before that. But St. Louis was different. I was conscious; I was aware of myself and my environment. I knew I needed God in my life. To be honest, the issues of life drove me to take God seriously. A friend had had a dream about her and me and the moment she shared it, I knew I had to let go of the old garment and take on the new. So, I joined the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) meetings and that was where my life changed. 

That encounter led me to a great relationship with the Lord. I read the Scriptures (my favourite was the Book of Psalms because I used that to pray a lot). It was in St. Louis I learnt I was never alone (why do you think I support Liverpool FC so much?). I learnt to rely on Him alone. 

When I entered the University, I realized a newfound freedom and observed (by the Grace of God) that if I didn’t take my spirituality seriously, I would easily miss it. Immediately, I joined the CCR on campus. I joined the drama ministry (I remember my first Praisedram). Not long after, I felt the leading to join the Music Ministry instead. That was such a test of faith because my years of burnt offerings in St. Louis had developed in me a fear of singing. Nonetheless, I joined the Music Ministry. The experience I had with the person who offered to be my shepherd wasn’t pleasant and that affected my walk with God. 

Thankfully, by Divine providence, I had the opportunity to work with a Reverend Minister and to be very honest, I am thankful for this because had it not been for the fact that I had to work for God (because of my PA role for the Reverend), I most likely would have stayed far from Him. God Is Good. After a few years of working there, I parted ways with the Ministry. 

Prior to this, I had started the Sharing Life blog and had taken writing very seriously. I knew it was what I had to do, and I did it with my full chest. There were a few occasions where the Holy Spirit would teach me something which I would later find in the Bible. Those moments were great. For some years now, I haven’t been active with Sharing Life neither have I pursued the things the Lord has laid on my heart to do. The reasons were endless but that’s not the point of today’s post. 

Today, I feel the urge to share with you that ABBA Is sending an invitation to all of us, inviting us to intimacy with Him. I know I am not the only one who senses as urgency in this season. All of a sudden, we feel an overwhelming sense to recover lost time and to run the race we know the Lord has called us to. 

I want to say that for the things that lie ahead of us, we will not get to pursue them using the habits we’re used to. The Lord has been drawing my attention to something: I noticed in the Bible that every time there was going to be the appearing/manifestation of the Lord on a matter or in the life of a person or to a people there had to be repentance. Take the life of Jesus. Before He came, John took the lead preaching repentance to the Jewish people. Repentance is simply a change of mind. 

I am saying that for what lies ahead, something has got to change. The thinking must be different. This is a call to turn around and go back to seeking God, going back to Jesus, and daily living this life journey with the Holy Spirit. It’s not about reading your Bible or praying to tick a box. It is about endeavouring to know the Lord for yourself and honouring His leadings by following when He speaks. Till this happens, we will keep running in circles and keep repeating cycles till we learn this lesson. The truth is, this that He does, He does because He loves us and doesn’t want us to perish. There is nothing about our life’s assignment we won’t find in Him.

In 2013 (or was it 2012), the Lord showed me something: It was an aerial view of a lot of people walking. From the eye level, it looked like they were all walking in different directions. But, when I saw the aerial view, I noticed that although it seemed so, they were all moving toward the same direction. 

I believe this is what intimacy does. Intimacy with the Lord enables us to walk in our respective unique callings not breaking ranks or trying to be like party A or B, but all the while serving the Lord and His purpose. The invitation to intimacy does not mean we will all do the same things. It means we will be different… as He made us to be. And we will draw all men back to Him as we spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him abroad in our respective niches. 

God bless you.