Developing Intimacy with God.

"Building a Deeper Connection: How My Childhood Zeal for God Shaped My Intimacy with Him" 

Growing up as a Redeemer was both fun and impactful.

As a child, there were days when what I looked forward to most while going to church were the biscuits and juice in the big jar that the children’s teachers would share. I also enjoyed seeing my friends and listening to Bible stories.

Growing up under the tutelage of my children’s teachers, there was one Bible passage that became almost like a national anthem: John 2:17 (KJV): "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." It was often written in the children’s Sunday school manual, and my mom made it a prerequisite for all of us to have a zeal and attend Sunday school.

Here’s the thing: every Sunday morning, we would head to Sunday school with our zeal (Sunday school manual), This was seen as a routine but, unconsciously it was building a culture and resistance in us that we would later come to realize as we grew older. I remember during one of the teen camps, there was a worship session where the minister was singing, and for a few seconds, I dozed off and saw a bright light shine towards me. That was the first time I spoke in tongues. 

This consciousness, which I have grown up with, has really helped me as an adult. There are times when I just jump up from bed, rush to the shower, and then remember, “Oh, I haven’t prayed this morning!” 

How often do we have quiet time with the Lord? Do we consider it old-fashioned? How often do we seek God's face concerning our day? How often do we pray?

Intimacy with God is a believer's key to daily revival from the Lord. To grow in intimacy with Him, we must yearn and be eager to know Him. Only then can we discern His thoughts and plans for us in every season.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God is ready to share His plans with us, but we can only truly understand them when we have an intimate relationship with Him and grow in the knowledge of His ways.

To grow in intimacy with Him, here are some strategies:

1. Create and endeavor to have a quiet time.
   This is a time you set aside to worship and commune with the Lord. It is a moment to seek His face and study His Word. This should be done consciously. Start small — every little step towards the Lord matters. It doesn’t have to be long; you can start with just 20 minutes and gradually grow. It's funny because when you start worshipping, reading the Word, and praying, you’ll realize you can spend 40 minutes or more. With time, it gets easier.

2. Learn to meditate on God’s Word.
   We should strive to meditate on the Scriptures we read, putting our name in the verses. By doing this, we develop a deeper Holy Spirit consciousness, realizing that these words are God’s letters to us. Having quiet time, especially in the morning, is like inviting the Lord into our day. Meditating on God’s Word helps us understand the good plans He has for us and prepares us for what He is doing and what is ahead. 

3. Learn to discern the voice of the Lord among many voices.
   When I was learning to discern God's voice, I often said, “Lord, speak to me in a way I would understand.” You can try this too. God speaks to us through the Word, the Holy Spirit, circumstances, and even through the right people.

4. Learn to surrender and trust the Lord completely.
   Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whos
   e hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (NKJV) When we surrender to God’s control, He takes the wheel and leads us toward fulfillment.

5. Pray.
   Cultivate the habit of praying, in times of little, many, and plenty. Through prayer and thanksgiving, make your supplications and worries known to the Lord.
   Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (NKJV)

The way we get into an airplane, believing that the pilot won’t hit a rock, crash, or burn, is how God wants us to trust Him. It’s never too late to start that journey.

Finding Peace in the midst if Storm.

 

When life's difficulties seem never-ending, who do you turn to? When tears are your closest companion, where do you find comfort? And when waiting seems unbearable, what do you do?

We all face moments like these—times when we need someone to talk to, someone to lean on, someone who can reassure us that there's nothing wrong with us. We long for that one person who can bring a sense of calm when everything else feels out of control.

But here's the good news: as children of God, we have Someone who promises to be our refuge. Psalm 46:1 tells us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." He knew we'd face challenges, and He promised to be there with us.

God understands the difficult seasons we go through, and while they're tough, He doesn't want these troubles to rob us of our peace.

I know how tiring it can be to hold onto peace when sleepless nights come with unrelenting worries. Even Jesus faced storms. In Mark 4:38, while Jesus was asleep in a boat during a raging storm, His disciples cried out, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" Jesus responded, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Here we see a picture of peace—the kind of peace Jesus had even in the middle of a storm. This peace, however, doesn't come from our circumstances. It's found in the Lord.

In our brokenness, we can draw near to Him, finding comfort in His presence and discovering the deep, abiding love that drives out fear.

During these seasons of waiting, God is working in the storms.

Waiting can be exhausting. There are times when you feel fear creeping in, and then you're like, "Lord, what is this?" But He's there.

How do you wait on the Lord? What do you do while in the storm?

Do you wait tearfully, in anger, in hope, or in praise?

When we speak about storms, it might seem like it’s for specific people, but we all go through challenging seasons. We all wait on something from the Lord. But it's very important that we wait in hope, faith, and praise, believing that, though we don’t see it, but it is over, it's settled. By doing this, God gives us peace while bringing our desired expectations. God is doing something in us to prepare us for what He has for us. 

Finding Strength and Reassurance in Scriptures

Philippians 4:4-9 gives us a powerful reminder it says;

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The enemy’s goal during these storms is to steal our peace. If he can rob us of peace, he can gain a foothold in our lives. But God, the God of peace, stands with us, closer than we can imagine. He is ready to give His peace—a peace that is steady in the face of life’s storms—because He cares deeply for us.

So, shake off that pain, shake off that anger and hate, and be peaceful.

So, when your world feels like it’s crumbling, remember: God is nearby. And in Him, you can find true, lasting peace.

Exercising our faith for the now.

A few years ago, while I was studying for my degree, I received a call from someone who had just checked her exam results. The cutoff for the exam was 180, but she scored 181. She asked me, "Will I be admitted?" I confidently responded, "Yes, you will." Stirring faith in her, I explained to her, “It was possible for you to have scored 179, but God allowed you to score 181 because He wants to do something. In previous years, you passed but weren’t admitted. This time, God wants you to trust Him to make it happen.”

The first admission list was released, but her name wasn’t on it. She was discouraged, but I told her, “Relax, A few weeks later, she checked the next list—and there it was: her name was on it. She had been admitted. That was trust and faith in action.

This reminds me of a Bible story that still sends shivers down the spines of those who hear it—a story that challenges us to trust in God’s power and provision. It’s the remarkable account of Jesus' ability to multiply, seen in the feeding of the 5,000 with only five loaves and two fishes (Matthew 14:16-21). In this miraculous moment, Jesus reveals His awareness of our deepest needs.

When the disciples suggested sending the crowd away, Jesus responded, “They need not depart; give ye them to eat” (Matthew 14:16). He took the loaves and fishes, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and distributed them among the multitude.

This story shows us Jesus’ awareness of their hunger and His compassion in meeting their needs. In the same way, God is very aware of every challenge we face and knows our hearts’ desire for a miracle. However, the breakthroughs we seek often respond to the faith we place in His Word and consist study in the word grows your faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

When Jesus was choosing His disciples, He encountered Simon Peter while he was fishing. In Luke 5:4-5 (KJV), Jesus says, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Peter replied, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.” This demonstrates that faith requires us to act on God's instructions, even without seeing a visible possibility. It’s not about believing in our own calculations, but in God's capacity to deliver.

When did we start doubting that our challenges could be settled by God? Why did we let the enemy have the last say over our lives? After all, we are more than conquerors—sometimes battered but never destroyed.

To witness God’s work, we need to put our faith into action. Exercised faith is faith that grows. Like an athlete training for victory, faith requires practice. Miracles don’t always come easily; they require us to step intentionally into the victory God has for us. With Him, no challenge is impossible. Friends, trials are opportunities in disguise—moments that allow us to exercise our faith and experience the miraculous.

Exercising our faith brings maturity, inner peace, joy, and prepares us for what’s next. 

So, faith up! God stands ready to respond to our faith in His Word, but it won’t happen until we intentionally put our faith to work.

Embracing God's purpose: Come Forth, There's a Greater Plan Ahead.

 

Embrace Your Greater Purpose: Arise and Come Forth

A few years ago, I was at a restaurant when I saw my friend Ejiro sitting alone, enjoying some ice cream. The appealing look of her dessert tempted me to ask for a taste. But as soon as I took a bite, I realized something was off—it was sour. Looking closer, I saw that the ice cream had separated, with water pooling on the side. I told Ejiro, “This ice cream is bad.” She smiled and replied, “Eh, it’s okay, I can manage it; it’s better than nothing.”

That encounter stayed with me long after I left the restaurant. As I reflected on it, I realized it had a deeper meaning: many of us settle for less because we fail to recognize the greater things God has in store for us. We often envy others' seemingly perfect lives, unaware of the challenges they face. And too often, we rush into decisions simply because we’re tired of waiting, not realizing that God has something far better planned for us.

God's Plan for You

For each of us, God has a well-thought-out plan and purpose. None of us is a mistake. In Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV), God says to the prophet, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...” This scripture emphasizes that God has known us even before we were born. Our lives are not random—they are part of His divine plan. But to fully walk in this plan, we must break free from the walls of limitation and lies we’ve believed about ourselves.

As Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Our mindset plays a huge role in how we see ourselves and the life we are capable of living. We need to transform our thinking to align with God’s truth.

In John 11:43, when Jesus called Lazarus to come forth from the grave, He was issuing a command to step beyond limitations, break free from bondage, and move into something greater. “Come forth” was not just a physical command—it was a spiritual invitation to rise above the past and embrace the fullness of God’s plan.

Similarly, in Isaiah 60:1, God says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” God has called us to be lights in the world, to shine forth His glory. He knows the smallness we sometimes feel, but He is calling us to something greater.

Living in God's Promise

In Romans 8:14-17, we are reminded that we have not been given a spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of adoption. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God… The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.” As children of God, we are heirs to His promises. Our identity in Christ is one of victory, not defeat. We are called to rise above our circumstances and walk in the fullness of His purpose.

God’s plan for us is not one of limitation or defeat. We are meant to rise above, not to remain beneath. “I shall be above only, and not beneath” (Deuteronomy 28:13). No matter the challenges, we are called to walk in victory, living out God’s promises.

So, the time is now for you to arise, come forth, and embrace the life He’s calling you to. Don’t settle for less when God has something greater in store. Trust Him, step out in faith, and let Him lead you into the abundant life He’s preordained for you.