LET US SEEK INTIMACY WITH GOD By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” — James 4:8 (KJV)
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INTRODUCTION
God desires His people to seek Him continually, to pray without ceasing, and to develop a close and living relationship with Him. However, we are living in times when many people have become occupied with worldly pursuits while neglecting the privilege of seeking the face of the Lord. People pursue material possessions, human approval, personal ambitions, and temporary pleasures, yet they fail to recognize that their greatest need is fellowship with the living God. The Lord is calling His people back to the place of prayer, humility, and sincere devotion, where they can know Him more deeply and experience the richness of His presence.
Prayer is not merely a religious activity performed when difficulties arise. It is an essential expression of our relationship with God. Through prayer, we acknowledge our dependence upon Him, seek His wisdom, receive His correction, and bring our hearts into submission to His will. God has given His people the privilege of approaching Him, yet many neglect this privilege because they become distracted, spiritually lazy, or convinced that they can manage their lives through their own understanding. Such attitudes prevent them from experiencing the closeness and spiritual growth that God desires for them.
The Lord has abundant spiritual blessings, wisdom, strength, comfort, and truth for those who sincerely seek Him. Nevertheless, we cannot expect to enjoy deep fellowship with God while consistently ignoring His presence. We must become people who desire Him above everything else, who approach Him with reverence, and who remain faithful in prayer. Let us therefore examine our hearts, repent of prayerlessness, and return to the living God, who calls us into fellowship with Himself.
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GOD DESIRES CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE
God did not create humanity merely to exist on the earth, pursue temporary interests, and eventually pass away without knowing Him. He created human beings in His image and desires them to know Him, walk with Him, and live in fellowship with Him. Through Jesus Christ, believers have access to the Father and the privilege of approaching Him in prayer. This relationship is more valuable than anything the world can offer because it connects us with the source of life, truth, wisdom, and eternal hope.
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” — 1 John 1:3 (KJV)
God desires more than occasional attention from His people. He wants hearts that genuinely love Him, seek His presence, and delight in knowing His ways. We should not approach Him only when we need money, healing, protection, or solutions to difficult situations. Although we may bring every legitimate concern before Him, our greatest desire should be to know Him personally and walk faithfully in His presence.
When we understand the privilege of fellowship with God, prayer ceases to be an unwanted burden. We begin to recognize that the opportunity to speak with the Creator is a gift of grace. We can come before Him with thanksgiving, confess our weaknesses, seek His guidance, and receive instruction from His Word. Therefore, let us not treat our relationship with God as something secondary. Let us seek Him because He is worthy of our love, worship, and devotion.
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RETURN TO A LIFE OF PERSISTENT PRAYER
The Lord desires His people to pray continually rather than allowing prayer to disappear from their daily lives. Yet many believers have become inconsistent in prayer. They may pray briefly when trouble arises but neglect communion with God when circumstances appear comfortable. Others become so occupied with responsibilities, ambitions, entertainment, and personal concerns that they no longer make sufficient time to seek His face.
“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
Persistent prayer does not mean that we must remain physically on our knees every moment of the day. It means maintaining a heart that continually depends upon God, returning to Him throughout our daily activities, and faithfully setting aside time for sincere communion with Him. Prayer should be a regular part of our lives, not an emergency measure reserved for moments of desperation.
When prayer becomes neglected, our awareness of spiritual matters may weaken. We may become more sensitive to worldly pressures than to the guidance of God's Word. We may react to circumstances according to fear, anger, or personal reasoning instead of seeking the Lord's wisdom. This is why we must guard our prayer lives carefully. We should not wait until our situations become unbearable before remembering that God invites us to call upon Him.
The Lord is calling us to renew our commitment to prayer. We must learn to seek Him faithfully, even when answers do not come immediately or when our feelings are not encouraging. Persistence demonstrates that we trust His character and remain dependent upon His wisdom. Let us become people who continue praying, worshipping, and seeking God's direction in every season of life.
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SEEK THE FACE OF GOD ABOVE WORLDLY PURSUITS
Many people seek almost everything except the presence of God. They pursue wealth, recognition, influence, comfort, and human relationships, believing that these things will satisfy the deepest desires of their hearts. Although material resources and human relationships can have legitimate places in life, they cannot replace fellowship with the Lord. When worldly pursuits become our highest priority, our spiritual lives suffer because our attention is directed away from the One who gives lasting life and peace.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
God does not call His people to abandon their responsibilities. Rather, He calls them to put Him first in everything they do. Our work, plans, relationships, and ambitions must remain subject to His authority. When we seek Him first, we learn to approach these matters with greater wisdom and a clearer understanding of what truly matters.
The world cannot offer the assurance that comes from knowing God. Human approval can change, possessions can disappear, and circumstances can become uncertain. If our hearts depend entirely upon these things, we will remain vulnerable to disappointment. But when our lives are rooted in fellowship with God, we have a foundation that circumstances cannot easily destroy.
We must therefore examine what receives the greatest attention in our lives. If we have time for countless activities but consistently claim that we have no time to pray, our priorities require correction. Let us turn away from distractions that consume our attention and restore the place of prayer, worship, and meditation on God's Word. The Lord deserves more than whatever time remains after we have satisfied every other desire.
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SEEK GOD'S WISDOM INSTEAD OF RELYING ON YOURSELF
Many difficulties become more confusing when we attempt to handle them without seeking the wisdom of God. Human understanding has limitations, and our judgments can be influenced by emotions, incomplete information, pride, and personal desires. We may believe that we know the best way forward, only to discover later that we failed to consider important matters. This is why we must seek God's counsel rather than assuming that our own understanding is sufficient.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)
Prayer brings our decisions before the Lord and reminds us that we need His direction. As we pray and examine His Word, we learn to surrender our preferences and become willing to follow what is right. God may correct our plans, expose our wrong motives, or lead us along a path we had not considered. Our responsibility is to remain humble and obedient rather than insisting that our original ideas must prevail.
We should not assume that every desire in our hearts represents God's will. Neither should we treat every thought, feeling, or circumstance as a direct message from Him. We must test our decisions against Scripture, seek wisdom, and remain willing to receive correction. Genuine dependence upon God makes us teachable because we recognize that His wisdom is greater than ours.
When we seek His counsel, we learn to approach life's challenges with faith rather than panic. We can acknowledge our limitations without surrendering to despair because our confidence rests in the Lord. Let us bring our concerns before Him, trust His wisdom, and avoid rushing into decisions simply because we want immediate solutions.
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REPENT OF PRAYERLESSNESS AND SPIRITUAL LAZINESS
Prayerlessness is a serious matter because it reveals how easily we can neglect our relationship with God. Sometimes we become spiritually lazy because we prefer activities that require less discipline. At other times, we allow disappointment, weariness, or worldly distractions to weaken our desire to seek the Lord. Whatever the cause, we must not excuse a habit of neglecting prayer while continuing to expect spiritual strength and direction.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” — Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)
The proper response to prayerlessness is repentance. We must acknowledge where we have failed, turn away from careless habits, and renew our commitment to seeking God. Repentance is not merely feeling guilty about neglecting prayer; it involves a genuine change of heart that produces a different pattern of living. We must make practical room for prayer and protect that time from unnecessary interruptions.
Our time on earth is limited, and we should not waste it pursuing everything except the Lord. We do not know how many opportunities we will have to serve Him, grow spiritually, and encourage others in the truth. Therefore, let us stop postponing our return to prayer. We should begin now, approaching God with sincerity and asking Him to restore our hunger for His presence.
The Lord welcomes those who turn to Him with humble hearts. We need not remain trapped in past failures or allow shame to keep us away from prayer. Instead, we should confess our neglect, receive His mercy, and continue walking in renewed faithfulness. Let repentance lead us into a more consistent life of fellowship with Him.
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BRING YOUR BURDENS TO THE LIVING GOD
Life brings many burdens, uncertainties, and responsibilities. Some people struggle with fear, others carry grief, and many face decisions that appear beyond their ability to manage. God does not ask us to pretend that these difficulties do not exist. He invites us to bring our burdens before Him, seek His help, and trust His care as we continue to walk in obedience.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
Through prayer, we can express our concerns honestly before the Lord. We can ask for wisdom, strength, patience, comfort, and the ability to remain faithful under pressure. Sometimes God changes our circumstances; at other times, He strengthens us to endure them with faith. His help does not always come in the form we expect, but we can trust His wisdom and faithfulness.
Jesus calls the weary to come to Him. This invitation reminds us that we do not need to carry every burden in isolation or depend exclusively on our own strength. When anxiety threatens to overwhelm us, prayer directs our hearts toward the One who knows us completely. As we surrender our concerns to Him, we learn to trust Him rather than allowing fear to control our decisions.
Let us therefore continue seeking God when our burdens seem heavy. We must not abandon prayer because answers are delayed or circumstances remain difficult. Instead, we should draw nearer to Him, receive His Word, and ask for the grace to persevere. Our hope is not in our ability to control everything but in the faithfulness of the living God.
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LOOK TO GOD, THE SOURCE OF LIGHT AND COMFORT
When we seek the Lord sincerely, we turn our attention toward His truth and character. God's light exposes what is wrong, reveals the way of righteousness, and helps us recognize the difference between truth and deception. His presence brings encouragement to the discouraged and reminds His people that darkness does not have the final word over those who trust Him.
“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” — Psalm 34:5 (KJV)
We must not expect the world or ungodly influences to provide the spiritual nourishment that comes from God. People may reject us, misunderstand us, or fail to offer the help we need. Such experiences can be painful, but they should not cause us to abandon our pursuit of the Lord. Our ultimate security must rest in Him rather than in the approval of others.
As we seek God through prayer and Scripture, He teaches us to view life in the light of His truth. He comforts us without encouraging sin, corrects us without abandoning us, and strengthens us to continue in faith. We must remain open to His work in our hearts, allowing Him to remove pride, bitterness, fear, and other attitudes that hinder spiritual growth.
Let us seek His face with confidence and thanksgiving. We may not understand every circumstance, but we can continue trusting His character. The more faithfully we pursue His truth, the more we learn to depend upon His wisdom and walk according to His Word.
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CONTINUE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH EVERY SEASON
A close relationship with God must be cultivated continually. We should not seek Him only when we are distressed, nor should we forget Him when life becomes comfortable. Both difficult and favourable seasons provide opportunities to honour Him through prayer, thanksgiving, worship, and obedience. A faithful believer seeks God's presence because of who He is, not merely because of what He can provide.
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” — Colossians 4:2 (KJV)
Thanksgiving helps us remember God's goodness and prevents our prayers from becoming focused exclusively on what we lack. We should thank Him for His Word, His mercy, the gift of salvation, and the privilege of approaching Him. Even when we face difficulties, we can remain grateful that He has not abandoned His people and that His truth continues to guide us.
We must also remember that fellowship with God includes obedience. Prayer should not become a substitute for doing what He has already instructed us to do. As we read Scripture, receive correction, and understand our responsibilities, we must put His truth into practice. A life of prayer should produce greater humility, faithfulness, love, and submission to God's will.
Let us therefore remain steadfast in our pursuit of the Lord. We should seek Him in private prayer, remember Him throughout our daily activities, and allow His Word to shape our decisions. In this way, our fellowship with Him becomes an enduring part of our lives rather than an occasional religious exercise.
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SUMMARY
God desires His people to enjoy close fellowship with Him through sincere and persistent prayer. Yet worldly distractions, pride, spiritual laziness, and self-reliance often lead people away from His presence. We must repent of prayerlessness, seek His wisdom, bring our burdens before Him, and receive His comfort and correction. Prayer is a privilege that should be treasured, and fellowship with God must remain a priority throughout every season of life.
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CONCLUSION
The living God invites us to draw near to Him, know His truth, and walk in His presence. He has given us the privilege of prayer so that we may depend upon Him rather than trusting exclusively in ourselves or the world. We must not allow busyness, disappointment, or spiritual laziness to weaken our relationship with Him. Let us return to the place of prayer with humble hearts, seeking His face and following His instructions faithfully. Our greatest need is not merely to receive things from God but to know Him and remain close to Him.
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CALL TO ACTION
Examine your life and ask yourself whether you have neglected prayer. If worldly activities, personal ambitions, or spiritual laziness have taken the place of seeking God, repent and make the necessary changes. Set aside time each day for prayer and the study of Scripture. Bring your burdens, decisions, and concerns before the Lord, and remain willing to obey His instructions. Do not postpone your return to Him. Begin today and continue seeking His face with sincerity and perseverance.
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FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Do not become discouraged if you have neglected prayer or allowed your fellowship with God to weaken. Return to Him with a sincere heart and renew your commitment to seek His presence. The Lord invites those who draw near to Him in faith, and His Word remains a source of wisdom, correction, and hope. Continue praying, trusting, and obeying Him. Let your greatest desire be to know the living God more deeply and to walk faithfully in His presence throughout your life.
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PRAYER OF SALVATION
Heavenly Father, I come before You acknowledging that I am a sinner and need Your salvation. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me, cleanse my heart, and give me a new life in You. Lord Jesus, I receive You as my Saviour and Lord. Help me turn away from sin and learn to walk according to Your Word. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and teach me to seek Your presence through prayer, faith, and obedience. Restore my fellowship with You and help me remain faithful throughout my life. Thank You for Your mercy and the gift of salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
