Passionate Pursuit by Ufuoma Fijabi

Pursuing God Passionately.

God wants all of you and not just a part of you. It is not enough to know God; he wants to have an intimate relationship with you every single day of your life. Every woman knows how it feels like when you fall in love for the very first time. The butterflies in your tummy, the silly smiles at the sound of your lover's voice. The peace and security that comes with being in his arms. And the intimacy built as both of you share, care, and give of yourselves to each other.

God desires your active participation in your relationship with him. He wants you to seek him with your whole heart. He longs for alone moments with you where he can share his heart with you and have you pour out your heart to him. And therefore, he left us with the Holy Spirit who is God himself. So, how can you pursue God passionately and cultivate intimacy with the person of the Holy Spirit?

1. Surrender to God because it is no longer about you. Galatians 2: 20 NLT "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

2. Pray and ask God for a more intimate relationship with him. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

3. Get to know God through his word. Listen to, read, study, and meditate on the Word with the help of the Holy Spirit. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

4. Abide in God's presence by being spirit-minded and engaging the person of the Holy Spirit in your everyday life. John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." This week, choose to go after God with your whole heart. He is waiting to lead and guide you into the fullness of his purpose for your life.

Prayer Moment

Dear Lord,

• I surrender all of me to you today. I commit to seeking you with all my heart. Fill me afresh with your presence and a desire to know you more.

• Lord, I want to be intimate with you. I want to know you through your word. Take away every lukewarm spirit and attitude in me and set my heart on fire for you.

• May my heart yearn for you and my soul thirst hard after you. May my deepest heart desire be
to always abide in and with you. Amen!

Think Over it
What is God saying to me today?