By Annette Marie Carr
Every committed relationship (even friendship) requires intentional one on one communication for the deepest intimate love and strength of connectivity.
The best relationships dedicate extra time to set aside the day to day busyness of life and to spend quality times that rekindle and build deeper love. There will always be a never ending, ever increasing task list. It takes sincere effort to create space for decent quality time.
Too often I let myself get so busy that I have a hard time slowing down enough to eat, let alone stop and spend quality time to communicate solely with my truest love, the LORD Jesus Christ.
Yet He is so merciful. No matter how much time I spend with Him, He refreshes me.
I short change myself, doing the more talk than listen prayers and rushed devotions. I love studying, study groups, church, and fellowship so this requires no effort at all. Yet I desire, yearn for, and NEED a deeper intimacy. Much deeper.
I know full well that the amount of time and what I do (or don't do) for Him in no way determines the depth of His love for me. He cannot possibly love me more or less.
All He wants from me is relationship. And when I received Him, acknowledged that He is LORD, I became His daughter. And any good parent desires a deep, intimate relationship with their children.
When I finally set aside that special solo time with Him, He lavishes me with refreshment and deepens my knowledge of His love for not only me but for ALL people. This creates a response in me to love Him and His people.
And THAT is my heart's desire. To know Him and make Him known.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
