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This morning the cry of my heart shifted just slightly... I want to know you, Father!! I want to know You!
As I sat in quiet, I read and I listened, ...this too was a deep desire crying out from my heart: To know others. To be known, yes please! And, also, to know.
That is real connection, isn't it? It isn't simply that I want my husband to know me--- I want to know him. I want to understand him more, to "get him"---just as I desire him to "get me".
My friends. My children. My parents. Yes, I want to be known by them. But, I also want to know them well. When we know each other, there is such a sweetness--- such tenderness.
Knowing each other brings connection and closeness.
God gives us this option. We can know God. What a thought!
And, since the beginning of time, God has been bringing Himself closer--- from Creation until today, He has been making Himself known. Knowable.
I can know God. This delights my heart!
He knows me. And, I can know Him. We can be that close--- that connected!
As we enter the advent season, I have begun reflecting on the Incarnation: Jesus choosing earth as His home for a short season. Jesus, my God, coming down. Entering a woman... walking on the earth.
But, He has been making Himself known since the beginning of time. In creation, God's hand splashed color and beauty and order over the earth... He made Himself known to us! Then, in early days of our history, God gave us His word as He whispered Truth through the pens of prophets and servants.
Then, He came closer...even closer than Scripture! His son chose to remove Himself from heaven and put Himself in the skin of a man. He walked and talked and ate with us. He put Himself closer to me and you! We can be that close!!
But, He wanted us to know Him even more still. He offers to enter us! He offers to Incarnate Himself in my very heart. "God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts" (Galatians 4:6) Can you get any closer?!
Jesus Himself testifies that the Spirit of God---the Comforter --is even closer, even "better" still than His walking on the earth. (John 16:7)
We can know God that closely... that tenderly. With simple belief in the Son of God, His Spirit enters us---Incarnates!---and comes that close to me. He is that close to you!
You are known.
And, you can know God. He gives us that option. He opened up the way. In fact, it is the cry of His heart!
That is the prayer of my heart this morning. Lord, my intimate Lord, I ask that through Your Spirit I may know You better! (Ephesians 1:17)
"Every prayer-filled day sees a meeting with the God who comes; every night which we faithfully put at his disposal is full of his presence." (Carlo Carretto, The God Who Comes)
"You will find the living God in the pages of the Bible. You will find him also just exactly where you are... God has sent the Spirit of Truth, he dwells in your hearts. There is no limit to the ways in which God may make Himself known to you. At every turn in our lives there can be a meeting place with God." (Mother Frances Dominica, Prayer--quote found in a Guide to Prayer)
