A Weapon Called Intimacy

I found the One I adore! I caught him and fastened myself to him, refusing to be feeble in my heart again. Now I'll bring him back to the temple within where I was given new birth, into my innermost parts, the place of my conceiving. Song of Songs 3:4

Did you know that intimacy is a weapon?

You have many weapons in your arsenal with which to fight against the lies and attacks of the enemy, who is the Accuser of your soul. Some of these weapons are prayer, meditation and declaration of the Word of God, worship, fellowship, communion and fasting, to name a few. But, one invaluable weapon we often overlook in this faster-than-living society is intimacy.

Intimacy.

Have you ever considered intimacy a weapon?

I've been studying the topic of spiritual warfare with great intensity as I have been pursuing the reality of walking in authority in Christ. What does it look like to fight a very real and present danger- an enemy who prowls around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour?

The answer I keep discovering as I glean from some of the great fathers and mothers in the faith is spoken with resounding agreement:

Intimacy.

Does the idea of intimacy feel counter-intuitive to fighting in battle? It did at first to me. Until I thought about my own marriage. I considered that the one thing that protects my marriage more than any other thing is maintaining and ever-pursuing intimacy with my husband. I don't just mean physical intimacy. While that is a big part of it, it includes all types of intimacy- emotional, conversational, and always pressing in, always seeking to know what is going on in his heart and mind. Being vulnerable with and observant of his person and his mind. Being actively engaged and aware.

If intimacy is absent, I do not know where we stand. I do not know who I am to that person, or if he would fight for me. If he would fight, how far would he go to fight for me? Can I trust him? Do his words match his heart? Does his heart match his actions?

If I do not know these things, I'm vulnerable to lies, insecurity and confusion. To fear.

The same is true when it comes to our intimacy with Christ.

The degree to which we know Him as He truly is is the same degree we are safe from the lies of the enemy-from the personally-manicured accusations of The Accuser.

The level of intimacy we have with Jesus will reveal the degree to which we will trust Him or feel safe with Him. It will reveal the belief we have of how far He will go on our behalf.

We must know His heart. You and I must pursue His heart like our life depends on it. Because, undoubtedly, our spiritual life does depend on it. The deeper we move into intimacy with this Person called Love, called Fierce Defender of My Soul, called Truth, the less we will live in fear. The less lies we will live our lives believing.

The more we will rest.

Because He is Rest.

With each degree of intimacy with Jesus comes another chink in my armor. Another layer of bronze on my shield. Lies will begin to bounce off me like an arrow bouncing off a brazen shield on fire.

So, what am I doing standing in a battlefield with no armor? What am I doing hiding under a bush to find cover from arrows lit by lies from the mouth of The Great Liar?

Will I run to the mountain of God? Will I spend my days in His chamber and step into intimacy with the Designer of my heart, the One who longs for me like a love-sick Warrior? Will I enter His throne room and sit at His feet? Asking Him what He's like, asking Him what He's thinking? Waiting for His next word like my life depends upon it? Will I take off the rags of pretending and remove the masks of politeness and political correctness with the One who desires all of me every moment of the day?

Yes. I will.

Because there I will know who my God is for me. I will know the lengths He will go again and again on my behalf. I will know who I am to Him. It will blow my mind into a thousand tiny pieces to know I could be loved like that. To know there really is Someone that Good and True, and that Person is devoted to me.

The lies will have no effect on a mind of such pure, mind-shattering enlightenment, of such quiet yet bold confidence.

Of such intimacy.

Supporting Verses: I Peter 5:8; Song of Solomon 3:4; Psalm 84:1-12; Psalm 3:3; Psalm 73:28; Psalm 91:9-10; Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 30:15