It becomes easy to fall into a rut in life. Whether it is in your job, in your relationships with others around you, or your spiritual life, a rut can make you feel lukewarm.
In order to break this feeling spiritually finding new ways to grow in intimacy with God can bring a refreshing and deeper relationship with our Creator.
1. Journaling
With so much being digital these days it has become quite the rarity to actually write out thoughts, ideas, or prayers by hand.
For many journaling can help in processing things by getting all that is trapped in your mind on paper. Consider starting a journal for your spiritual walk with God
Before you even begin to write, invite the Holy Spirit to be with you as you honestly and sincerely write out all that stirs in your mind. Pour out your heartfelt prayers, make a record of all God has done in the past, and list all you are leaving before His Throne today.
As time progresses it will become evident how God answered certain prayers or concerns you journaled about, and remind that He will help you in what is to come as well. It is here as well that you can record what you sense upon your heart, or hear in that still small voice to keep detail of the day to do or specifics surrounding a certain prayer request.
Journal with God and see how along the way your story is written out to stand as a testimony of His deep care for you.
2. Nature Walks
Nature or prayer walks are a great way to grow in intimacy with the Lord.
The famous inventor George Washington Carver took this method of connecting with God quite seriously and chose to wake up at 4 AM most mornings to walk through nature just to listen and have conversation with God. In fact, it was on one of those purposeful walks that he inquired of God about the specifics of why God made the peanut and through God’s instruction and answer to Carver that many innovative ways to use the peanut came about.
The result of a walk in nature or alone or just in the company of the Lord does not always have to result in such large miracles, but it is a place where man can bond with his Creator well. It is no surprise that God placed the first man, Adam, in a Garden where he could literally walk with God, and we can do the same through the Holy Spirit.
Invite the Holy Spirit to join with you on a walk, speak when you feel the opportunity to, and listen and watch as He may just have an answer along the way.
3. Bible Reading and Devotionals
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we are reminded that the Bible is the Word of God, the very breath and heart of the Lord given to us into our own hands to read.
It is through the stories, journeys, and firm truths stated throughout the Bible that we can see the true heart and character of God Himself. Intimately coming to experience His heart by reading His Word will only broaden that understanding.
Start with a book of the Bible and go through it slowly, or perhaps choose a Scripture-rooted devotional series on a topic to meditate upon. Soak up the full and rich verses and dwell upon how they have meaning in your own life.
Don’t worry about merely getting through a book on a certain schedule, really spend time entrenched in what stands up to you and what God may be conveying to your own heart during this time or a time to come.
The Word of the Lord is living and active, remember that. Learn how to live and act from all the Word personally has for you.
4. Worship
It is no wonder that God made music such a sound of the soul. Through music, poetry, and musings King David worshipped the Lord in so many of the Psalms.
Today we have the same opportunity and invitation to enter into a time of just worshipping God. Not seeking to get anything in return, but singing praise and connecting with our Father in Heaven.
Christianity is not a just religion, it is a relationship with the Lord. Any relationship thrives and benefits through heartfelt time and unifying occasions. We as children of God desiring to be in active relationship with Him can come before Him to sing Him praise, to lift our voices, spirits, and hearts up to Him.
Join with the choirs of Angels in Heaven in expressing adoration to God through worship.
5. Soaking Prayer or Meditation
True intimacy is full connection and knowing from both parties. In John 10 it speaks of how the sheep know the voice of their Shepherd, and in this verse the verb, to know, in the original Greek is, oida.
Oida translated means to be aware or recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, but John 10 goes deeper in verse 14 sharing how the Good Shepherd knows His sheep in the Greek verb, ginosko, and that His sheep know Him.
This verb differs from oida in that ginosko means to intimately, personally, and fully know, and to have the inside relationship of being fully understood and seen. This is what the Lord desires and offers to have with us.
Making time with no distractions to abide in soaking prayer opens opportunity for this time of ginosko. Great apps such as the Abide App offer scripture-based meditations to help you transition into a time of listening prayer, or gentle music can assist as well. Even if you do not hear anything during your time of prayer know that the Lord delights in the intentional time you choose to spend simply being with Him.
Placing aside distractions, phones, or anything else just to be with your Good Shepherd.
Since Eden God has openly desired to have communion and closeness with His children. Growing in coming to personally know Him and be known by Him takes time and is a beautiful journey to ever be growing in.
Actively seeking and perhaps trying new ways of coming to unite with Him will grow your faith and trust in Him. The greatest gift of this life is truly and sincerely ginosko the Good Shepherd.
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Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com