Cultivate Intimacy With Jehovah

"DRAW close to God, and he will draw close to you," wrote the disciple James. (James 4:8) And the psalmist David sang: "The intimacy with Jehovah belongs to those fearful of him." (Psalm 25:14) Clearly, Jehovah God wants us to have an intimate relationship with him. Yet, not everyone worshiping God and obeying his laws necessarily feels close to him.

What about you? Do you have a close personal relationship with God? Undoubtedly, You want to draw closer to him. How may we cultivate intimacy with God? What would this mean for us? The third chapter of the Bible book of Proverbs provides answers.

Manifest Loving-Kindness And Trueness

King Solomon of ancient Israel commences the third chapter of Proverbs with the words: "My son, my law, do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe, because length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you." (Proverbs 3:1, 2) Since Solomon wrote under divine inspiration, this fatherly advice is really coming from Jehovah God, and is directed to us. We are counseled here to abide by God's reminders-his law, or teaching, and his commandments-recorded in the Bible. If we do this, "length of days and years of life and peace will be added to us. Yes, even now we can enjoy a peaceful life and can avoid pursuits that expose us to the danger of early death that often befalls evildoers. Moreover, we can entertain the hope of eternal life in a peaceful new world. -Proverbs 1:24-31; 2:21, 22.

Continuing Solomon says: "May loving-kindness and trueness themselves not leave you. Tie them about your throat. Write them upon the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and good insight in the eyes of God and of earthling man." - Proverbs 3:3, 4.

The original language word for "loving-kindness" is alternately rendered "loyal love" and entails fidelity, solidarity and loyalty. Are we determined to remain attached to Jehovah come what may? Do we display loving-kindness in our relationship with fellow believers? Do we work to remain close to them? In day-to-day dealings with them, do we keep 'the law of loving-kindness upon our tongue' even under trying conditions? -Proverbs 31:26.

Being abundant in loving-kindness, Jehovah is "ready to forgive." (Psalm 86:5) If we have repented of our past sins and are now making straight paths for our feet, we are assured that "seasons of refreshing" will come from Jehovah. (Acts3:19) Should we not imitate our God by forgiving others of their trespasses? -Matthew 6:14, 15.

Jehovah is the "God of truth," and he wants "trueness" from those seeking intimacy with him. (Psalm 31:5) Can we really expect Jehovah to be our friend if we lead a double life-acting one way around Christian associates and another way when they are out of their sight-like"men of untruth" who hide what kind of people they are? (Psalm 26:4) How foolish that would be, since "all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes" of Jehovah! -Hebrews 4:13.

Loving-kindness and trueness are to be valued as a priceless necklace 'tied about our throat,' for they help us 'find favor in the eyes of God and earthling man.' We need not only to display these qualities outwardly but also to engrave them on the tablet of our heart,' making them an intrinsic part of our personality.

Next time: Cultivate Implicit Trust In Jehovah

Watchtower, 2000