by Chad Lewis on June 29, 2006
During a sermon years ago, Dave Busby defined intimacy in one of his last sermons. He simply stated that intimacy means “into me see.” I ponder that definition as I type today. I’m on the other side of marriage now. After 32 years of singleness, the Lord has blessed me with an amazing friend. Even though she is my special gift fom God, I still have to fight to open myself up instead of crawling into a shell of safety.
It is a dangerous thing to let someone in. I know that men too often believe that we must have this persona of strength even when we are weak. We all may battle the lie that if someone sees us for who we really are, they could not love us. Though I know these are lies, the battle still rages. The encouraging thing is that I am learning.
As I am real with my wife, I find her embrace growing stronger. As I reach out from my innermost parts and reveal what I feel is ugly, she loves me even more. Isn’t this just a small picture of God and His children?
Much of the journey of the Christian life is growing in belief of what is true. God already sees everything about us. He sees and knows ALL. The invitation of God is the most amazing imaginable. He says to us, “Into me see.” He desires for His children to grow in the knowledge of Him. It is not for the sake of knowledge, but rather, it is for the sake of a thriving, intimate relationship. He already knows all so why don’t we share all with Him?
As we grow to know who our Abba, Father is, we grow in trust and the journey of life becomes one that we walk by faith and not by sight. He is GOOD! Oh, He is GOOD!!! Believe this and pour out your heart to your Father. Believe this and dig into His Word so you can know the very Creator of your soul and the keeper of all things. He calls us just like He called David. “When You said ‘Seek My face’, my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I will seek.’” Let us have the heart of David and seek God’s face today.
As a simple reminder, I once put a large sign on my wall. It simply said, “‘Chad, come sit with me.’ God”
by Chad Lewis on September 5, 2005
31 now and I read on my wall “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
It is a difficult thing to wait. That which I believed hesitantly about my life at 25 I still believe now at 31. I would be a fool to not see tremendous growth and maturing over these years. Some things have changed drastically but some old things still linger.
Wisdom tells me that I should not worry about the fulfillment of these dreams but that God, in His good timing will bring them to pass. It has always been His deal so I wait and work to rest. I work to learn. I work to be patient. I work to abide in Him so I can love others. I work to fight against discouragement.
My heart is reminded of a most precious promise concerning our God. He is not like some distant being who is uncaring and unconcerned. He is not some cosmic Santa Clause who wants us to have earthly “stuff.” He is our Abba, Father to whom we can pour our souls out to and know He hears. He sees us at all times. He knows our deepest hurts and longings. He wants us in the midst of all of our imperfections. He is our fortress and our strength. He works on our behalf and moves in the intimate details of our lives. This is God – how do you explain the One who created the vastness of our Universe that seems limitless? How do you begin to comprehend the One who created mathematics and physics to describe how the universe works? How do you describe the One who created us to feel love, hopes and dreams? Words will never completely do… He is awesome and He bids us to come and seek His face. The invitation is open.
Though we may wait, He is working. May our lives be like King David who writes in Psalm 27:8, “When You said seek My face, my heart said to You ‘Lord, Your face I will seek.’”
Whether you are in the midst of a bountiful time of intimacy with God or you are wallowing in the mire, He desires for you to seek His face. It is here that we will find freedom and rest as we come to our greatest good – God, Himself. Wait patiently on Him.
