The Mystery of Love: Keep the Kindling of Communion with God

February, 2005

by: Walt Bertelsen

What's it like to be in love?

Most of us have some experience here. Remember? There is that special someone that you want to be with, to talk with, to share with. It's all you can do to focus on the task at hand until you are together…

A similar scenario often occurs with the new Christian: that first ardor and excitement about all that has to do with Christ–talking with Him, sharing, reading His letters, doing what He likes, being with His people.

Often, too, that initial captivation and excitement, like the first ardor of romantic love, seems to fade as life goes on, gets “real.” It's normal for “newness” to fade in anything. But when that happens in our relationship with the Lord, when prayer becomes dry and neglected, when the Bible sits on the shelf, there is a problem.

What cools the fire in our relationship with Christ is a greater problem than worn–off novelty. Sin will certainly stop you cold from desiring God's fellowship in prayer. You must be dealing in an on–going way with sin. But dealing with sin through repentance is just the beginning — it is opening the channel to biblical change.

I am going to remind you about three forces that work mercilessly against all your efforts at communing with God. Then, I want to help you understand three things that will help you rekindle communion.

Forces arrayed against God and you

These three forces are the inveterate enemies of God, and are proactively opposing Christ in you:

First is the world system, driven and inspired by the god of this world. Secondly, there is your own flesh. The flesh, that earthly part of you with its desires, is a deceitful schemer that wants nothing to do with God, and which is at enmity with God and at war with the Spirit of Christ within you (Rom 8:7; Gal 5:17). This enmity never changes, because the flesh never changes — it is always and ever the enemy of God. The third thing is Satan, the enemy of your soul, and his angels. Don't be surprised when you find yourself not desiring God.

Keeping your first love kindled

Rekindling your love for communion with Christ is not magically stirred up upon repentance. Since eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3), the first step is to seek to grow in His knowledge. Knowing and understanding God is the high privilege of His children (Jeremiah 9:24). Three things that will help rekindle communion are: first, your understanding of who God is; secondly, your understanding of your relationship with this God; and thirdly, your understanding of what prayer is about.

I said “understanding” because what the Bible says and your understanding of what the Bible says are often different. Last year, John Richard told our men: “The most important thing about you is — your view of God.” John's point was that your view of God will determine much of what you say and do in your life — whether it's a biblical understanding or not. You hear a lot around church about the sovereignty of God. But, alone at home, are you wondering secretly: Does it really matter if I pray? Won't God do what He is going to do?

And what about your relationship with God? Do you wonder: Does God really hear my prayer? This Sovereign–of–All is also your “Abba.” What does it mean in your daily life that He has specifically adopted you and made you His inheritance? Do you know that He attentively listens to you, and He hears you?

Our Lord Jesus modeled for us the meaning and practice of prayer — and it wasn't just the “Lord's Prayer.” Jesus was always confident of the Father hearing Him. Are you? We will look at Jesus' prayer life next. For now, I pray you will know Him more, and knowing Him, love Him and desire communion with Him.