Our Passion and Pursuit
Worship Articles
by EXW Staff
August 09, 2009
– Knowing God Intimately - By Jim Feiker
These are all words that convey dependence, communion, fellowship, and a deep love relationship with God. David's pursuit of God, like a marriage relationship, did not happen accidentally. It was a deliberate choice of his will to pursue and cultivate intimacy with God. David's dependence, evidenced by continually resorting to God, bred greater and greater intimacy. He desired extended times of communion and fellowship with the Father. These times cultivated deeper intimacy. Intimacy requires dependence, discipline in cultivating the relationship and devotion to His desires and will (John 14:21).
David then gives some ways that he cultivates intimacy and an increasing thirst for God:
Vs. 2 - "I have seen you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory." Intimacy with the Father demands silence and extended times with Him. His acquaintance is not made known hurriedly. It involves cultivating the awareness of God's presence and works on a daily basis.
Vs. 4 - "I will praise you as long as I live." Vs. 5 – "my soul shall be satisfied...with singing lips my mouth will praise you." David's life was punctuated with praise and worship. His deepest satisfaction was in God alone. David had made a lifelong commitment to walk intimately with God right into eternity.
Vs. 6 - "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the
night." David had learned how to constantly meditate on God, His
Word and His works. Psalm 1:2 conveys David's deep commitment to
the Scriptures. Since he delighted in them, he meditated on them day
and night. We know now through Christ's revelation that the entirety of
Scripture clearly reveals Him. To know Him intimately, we must
devote ourselves to soaking ourselves in the Scriptures.
Principles on revitalizing our passion for God
1. Understand the Spirit-controlled life and continually appropriate the Spirit's filling. Ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to put in us a new intense hunger and thirst for Himself and the Scriptures (Galatians 4:6). "Abba, Abba," means"Daddy, Daddy, I need you and desire you."
2. Spiritual Formation (growing in Christ), should be in our ministry description – We need time during our workday to be in the Scriptures and interceding for others. Realize God is giving us permission to sit at His feet and learn of Him. Our time sitting at His feet can be seen as the real work, a priority in our ministry. Jesus gave Mary permission to sit at His feet (Luke 10:42). We cannot reserve time with Jesus only in our private world. Jesus is our model (Luke 5:15-16). He said "no" to pressing opportunities to spend time with His Father in the middle of His ministry.
3. Worship is a primary ingredient in increasing our appetite for God. Set aside
regular time to be alone with God on daily basis, and for extended times of
prayer and fellowship with Him. Approach the Scriptures to see and know more of
Jesus.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.