Conozca A Dios Intimamente

Casa Creacion

Chapter One

I remember the emptiness I felt in 1976 when, as a young Christian,I realized that doing the right things brought temporary happinessbut not deep, satisfying joy. In those early days of my friendshipwith God, I could only see Him from a distance, much like thechildren of Israel who remained at the foot of Mount Sinai mighthave seen Him when He talked face to face with Moses on the top ofthe mountain. They could hear His voice, but to them He looked likea consuming fire.

Without a doubt, I saw God as big and powerful, and I wanted toremain safely within the borders of His provision, so I lived by thelaw of the church. I showed up for every meeting and signed up formultiple opportunities to serve Him, but my life was still full ofirritations and aggravations that robbed me of true contentment.

Many people frustrate their search for fulfillment, as I did,because they don't know where to look for that one thing that willsatisfy their desire for something more. Like most people, thechildren of Israel thought of satisfaction as the sense ofenjoyment, security, and well-being that comes from having theirphysical needs met; but it is more than that. I was a Christian forseveral years before I understood that true inner satisfaction isthe most important thing in life and that it is the result ofenjoying life through the abiding presence of God.

One day I read these words of the psalmist David, who summarizedlife's one requirement, the one he felt was more important thananything else: "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will Iseek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell inthe house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, tobehold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and thedelightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, andinquire in His temple" (Psalm 27:4).

David had enjoyed many opportunities to find self-worth and innersatisfaction. Empowered by the presence of God, he had killed a lionand a bear with his bare hands, and then an imposing giant althougharmed only with a slingshot and five small stones. God chose thisanointed songwriter to become king of Israel even though he was theyoungest brother of a family of men who were all more prominent thanhe was. His eventual fame and wealth offered all that most peoplemight think would bring inner satisfaction.

David's pursuit of more of God, even after experiencing God'spresence through many extraordinary events in his life, gave meconfidence that there was much more to know about God than what Ialready knew. After all, even David felt the need to know God moreintimately. I believe we need to continually desire intimatefellowship with God if we want to experience lasting inner joy.

I emphasize the word seek when meditating on Psalm 27:4 ("One thinghave I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and[insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [inHis presence] all the days of my life") because that word appearsmany times in the Bible, but some people may not fully understandwhat it means. To seek is to desire and require, which is to crave,pursue, and go after something with all of your might.

Many people want guidance from God, but they don't crave and pursueHim or lay aside other things in order to go after a word from Him.But David narrowed down all the things that he wanted in his life tothis one thing-more of God all the days of his life. David's wordsin Psalm 27:4 have become my favorite life Scripture. I often signit after my name when autographing books because I believe that theonly thing that truly satisfies the longing within us is to know Godmore intimately today than we did yesterday.

More than likely, you can reflect on a moment with God that was moresatisfying than any other event in your life. But if that moment wasyears ago, or even yesterday, then you are missing out on the richpleasure that comes from fellowshipping daily with the Father,through His Holy Spirit. The Lord says, "I love those who love me,and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me" (Proverbs8:17), and, "You will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as avital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all yourheart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

No matter what we own, where we go, or what we do, nothing can giveus true gratification but the presence of God. Money, trips,vacations, houses and furniture, clothes, open doors of opportunity,marriage, children, and many other blessings are all things that cancertainly excite us and give us a degree of happiness for a periodof time. But happiness is based on what is happening at the moment,while joy is based on an internal assurance independent of outwardcircumstances.

The Greek word translated joy in the New Testament means "calmdelight." It's not necessarily hilarity, although it can includethat, but to be calm and delighted is wonderful. I don't thinkthere's anything better than just to be satisfied. To wake up in themorning and think, Life is good, praise God, I'm satisfied, and thento go to bed at night still satisfied, that is truly living anabundant Spirit-filled life.

We will never be permanently, consistently satisfied if we seekthings to do or own in order to quench that void inside of usinstead of seeking the inner satisfaction that comes only from timespent with God. I am pressing this point because I believe there aretoo many unhappy born-again and so-called Spirit-filled believerswho are without knowledge of what to do about their dry, unfulfilledlives. I say "so-called" because to be filled is to remain full ofthe Spirit of God by acknowledging Him and pursuing His ways on adaily basis.

God's Word says, "But ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy]Spirit"(Ephesians 5:18). Ever means always, anytime, daily. Ourstomachs never stay filled if we don't keep eating and drinking. Onegood book, one classroom study, or one good conversation withsomeone can never satisfy our thought life, and one-time encounterswith God are never going to keep us contented spiritually.

We spend time and money, we make careful plans and elaborateprovisions to feed ourselves each day. Sometimes we even know todaywhere and what we're going to be eating tomorrow! Just as ourphysical body must be fed, our spirit man must also be fed. Butsomehow we seem to think we can have a great relationship with Godwithout feeding ourselves with His Word and filling ourselves withHis presence.

Jesus said, "Man does not live and be upheld and sustained by breadalone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew4:4, paraphrase). Then in John 6:33 He said, "For the Bread of Godis He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world." Yetwe starve ourselves of life's most important requirement-this DailyBread from God.

We were created to enjoy a living, vital relationship with God.There's something supernaturally wonderful about reading the Word ofGod and hearing Him speak His promises to us. His Word to us hasinherent power in it; His words are spirit, and they are life (seeJohn 6:63). If we don't seek God and spend time feeding our spiritwith His truth, we will never be content. I don't think there'sanything worse than being in a low-level state of spiritualdissatisfaction all the time.

YOU ARE AS CLOSE TO GOD AS YOU WANT TO BE

It's obvious that some...