BENEFITS OF DIVINE INTIMACY (3)

“But those who wait on the Lord shall RENEW their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings like eagles...” – Isaiah 40:31a

Exchange and Enhancement of Strength for Exploits are vital BENEFITS of DIVINE INTIMACY: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall RENEW their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa.40: 30-31). To wait on God is to abide in and with Him Who is our Strength and Source of Renewal. We are to trust Him even when we feel weary, seeking Intimacy with Him through Faith and Perseverance.

Intimacy is the quality or state of being intimate; that is, being on familiar, affectionate personal terms. Intimacy involves two people knowing deep secrets about one another. However true intimacy transcends the physical realm. God wants more than a fleeting relationship with us. He desires for us to be intimate, not passively, but by an active pursuit: trusting Him, seeking His guidance, and persevering in faith. Renewal of Strength speaks of an Exchange – God replaces our weakness with His Strength. Those who wait on Him will receive new strength, not just to endure, but for soaring Impact, to overcome challenges, and grow stronger in faith.

Praise God! We are already halfway to the place of Intimacy with God. He already knows our innermost thoughts. What remains is for us to know and understand the Heart of God. Today’s passage reveals three steps toward Intimacy with God. First is to recognize that God knows us better that we know ourselves: “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (vv.27-28). Next, is to understand that God will help us in our weaknesses: “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (v.29). The final step is taking time to be with Him!

Daniel 11:32b also captures the import of Intimacy with God in receiving Strength for Exploits: “But the people who KNOW their GOD shall be STRONG, and carry out GREAT EXPLOITS." This contrasts the state of those who are swayed by flattery and wickedness with the exploits of those who know God intimately. In encountering life’s challenges, let’s remember that God is our Source of Strength and Renewal. Intimacy with Him comes by: Immersing ourselves in His Word to understand His Character, Purposes, and Ways; trusting in His Promises even when we feel overwhelmed; living a life of gratitude and devotion through prayer, worship, praise, and service; and prioritizing Him – making time for God in our busy schedules, making Him the Center of our lives.