Book Highlight: Intimacy with the Almighty

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Every once in a while you come across a book that should be read repeatedly. Other than the word of God, there have been a handful books were strategically powerful in my growth as a spiritual leader. Some were due to timing and stage of life. Others are much more timeless.  For 2022, I’m going to share one of those with you each month in hopes they might be equally impactful for you and those you serve.  

Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll, while helpful for all believers,  has special significance for those in ministry. Pastor Chuck wrote it to crystalize his reflection during his 2+ year interlude between pastorates. The catalyst was coming to see how enslaved we all- including pastors- are to the busyness of our lives. So busy in fact that many are operating on spiritual fumes. (p. 9) I have been there. I imagine you have as well. This book came to me early in my first pastorate and thankfully, graciously confronted my drivenness to overwork at the cost of abiding in Christ.

He reminds us that God invites us to go deeper (p. 16). Our God is deep beyond comprehension. His wisdom unsearchable and His ways unfathomable. Yet, He invites us to draw near, marvel, worship and spend our lives deepening in Him! I wonder that this is part of what will keep eternity from becoming boring!

He quotes Richard Foster lamenting that the pace of life keeps too many in our world including pastors living shallow lives. When this happens not only are we missing out but we live with little of value to offer those God has called us to serve. The answer is simple but we must be intentional. We need Intimacy with the Almighty!

“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”

Richard Foster Celebration of Discipline p. 1

Swindoll concisely and passionately unpacks four decisions that involve four disciplines. These are intended to create the space needed to help us deepen. There is a saying… you can have anything but not everything. When I believe that what matters most is Jesus’ work in me and through me, I choose to draw near to Him. These disciplines allow us to experience the blessing and benefit of doing just that. Once you begin you will come to hate living any other way.

Here is my paraphrase of His four decisions & disciplines. Decide to:

1. Reorder your private world through simplicity. This removes the entangling clutter that chokes out space for Jesus.
2. Be still and know that He is God through silence. This turns down the volume of this world so we can hear His voice.
3. Cultivate serenity in His presence through solitude. This gives intentional space for the peace of God which doesn’t make sense to root more deeply in our souls.
4. Trust the Lord completely through surrender. This is how we deny ourselves and take up our cross so we can actually follow Him.

Now, I know these are not likely to sound new or even profound. They are quite simple and easy to understand. And yet simple when it is significant is NOT always easy. Perhaps this is why it takes so long to consistently build them into our lives.

In these moment we create space for God Himself to instruct us, correct, us, feed, us give us rest and renew us for his mission. This is where we ask God to search us and show us what we need to see about our lives (Psalm 139) This is where we embrace our Good Shepherd’s work to restore our souls (Psalm 23).

If abiding in Christ is the key to joy, answered prayer and fruitfulness however, I can’t think of many things more important than Chuck’s gentle reminders in this book. I strongly encourage you to get a copy of the 80 page book and let pastor Chuck’s encouragement help you deepen with Jesus this year.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. Ps 42:1