The Spiritual Fitness ManualSample

God Knows Us Intimately

By Dennis Roy Maynard, D. Min

Moses asked God to give him His name.  God responded, “I Am who I Am.” For centuries the faithful knew God simply as The Great I Am.  Jesus taught us to call God Abba. The most accurate translation for Abba is “da-da”—daddy.  Jesus is telling us that God loves us and cares for us as a loving daddy cares for his children. 

A pastor visited with a woman being overwhelmed by the storms in her life.  She was filled with fear and anxiety.  Her mind and heart were consumed with doubt about the very existence of God.  The pastor attempted to reassure her but his efforts were falling on deaf ears.  He then picked up a photo of a young girl that was sitting on the woman’s dresser.  “Who is this?”  He asked.  “That’s my daughter.”  The woman smiled.  “So you love her very much.”  The woman nodded.  “There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for her.  There is no end to my love for her.  She is the most important person in my life.”  The pastor placed the photo back on the dresser and turned to face the woman.  “God has your photo on His dresser.  He loves you even more than you love your daughter.”

We are able to have an intimate relationship with God simply because our Father knows us so very well.  When we sit quietly and read the words of His great love for us contained in Holy Scripture the restlessness in our souls is quieted.  We can know Him because He knows us.  We know Him intimately because He makes Himself known to us.  He knows your name!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

• What does it mean to know God intimately?

• What practical ways can you think of to develop this intimacy for yourself?