Meyer - Knowing God intimately: being as close to Him as you want to be

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Amplified Bible (AMP). The Amplified Bible, Old Testament, copyright 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament, copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from The Message: New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs (MESSAGE) by Eugene H. Peterson. Copyright 1993,1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson. NavPress, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80935. Used by permission.

Scriptures noted NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scriptures noted NIV are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scriptures noted TEV are taken from Today's English Version. Copyright 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992 by The American Bible Society.

Scriptures noted TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

2003 by Joyce Meyer

All rights reserved.

Warner Faith

Time Warner Book Group

Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

The Warner Faith name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

First eBook Edition: April 2003

ISBN: 978-0-446-54887-8

Book design and text composition by L&G McRee

If you are looking for God, or if you are a believer but feel something is missing, this extraordinary book by Joyce Meyer is for you. It can show you, as it was shown to her, the way to the profound joy that comes from a truly intimate relationship with God.

Using Scripture and powerful real-life examples, Joyce reveals that we, not God, determine our level of intimacy with Him. She reminds us that Moses went alone to visit God on the mountaintop while Joshua and others stood at a distance from Him. And while at least seventy people traveled with Jesus when he preached, only twelve disciples were his close companions. Of the twelve, Peter, James, and John were closer still. But only one of the three laid his head on Jesus breast. Although Jesus loved them all, only one of his followers achieved this highest level of intimacy.

With that in mind, Joyce gives us a clear picture of four levels of commitment open to us and the gifts God gives us at each level.

Discover:

The excitement of new beginnings when Godin an unexpected waymoves suddenly into your life (If you are ready for this book, you have a suddenly about to come into yours!)

The Seven Characteristics of God as you allow Him to guide you through life's difficulties, great and small

The special gifts God imparts to direct, protect, and empower believers for their everyday lives

A new, God-given purpose when you let Him guide you in mind, body, and spirit to the place He wants you to go.

At each levelfrom acknowledging God's presence to letting Him completely transform your lifeJoyce shows you how to move, step by step, closer to God. What relationship are you ready for? How far can you go in seeking God? What amazing accomplishments can you complete with God's help? In KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY, Joyce Meyer gives you the keys to finding your unique relationship with Him. God is waiting for you; the choices are yours. Will you open the door?

JOYCE MEYER has been teaching Scripture since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She is the bestselling author of over 54 inspirational books, including Secrets to Exceptional Living, The Joy of Believing in Prayer, and Battlefield of the Mind, as well as over 220 audiocassette albums and over 85 videos. Joyce's Life in the Word radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively to share her message in her popular Life in the Word conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

This book is dedicated to the Holy Spirit who leads and guides me and who is ever teaching me how to grow spiritually and dwell in the presence of God.

M any Christians go to church, do what they think they should be doing to follow all the rules, and live what they think is the Christian life; but inside they are wondering, Is this it? Is this all there is?

I spent many years as a Christian just going through the motions of serving God. In my heart I felt that something was missing from my relationship with the Lord, although I didn't know what it was. God had done many wonderful things for me, but my life was frustrating and not really much different from the lives of those I knew were not Christians. I had many problems in my personality and life. I wanted to see a change, but somehow I was powerless to do anything to bring about that change. I could not believe that my life was meant to be a meaningless existence.

I finally asked God to give me whatever it was I was missing; I wanted more of Him in my life. In response to my desire and request, even though I didn't know what it was I was seeking, God gave me the answer! I learned that growing in the knowledge of who God is and seeking intimate fellowship with Him is a vital necessity of enjoying His purpose for our lives.

Had I not learned the importance of seeking fellowship with God daily many years ago, I wouldn't be here writing this book today. Neither would I be the founder and director of a world outreach center which now employs nearly five hundred people dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each year thousands of people receive Christ as their personal Savior and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit during our national and international conferences.

In addition to the millions of books distributed by my publisher, our ministry, Life in the Word, has printed more than 1.7 million books in forty-three foreign languages. One year we distributed more than five million cassette tapes and books. Each day, a potential audience of 2.1 billion people receives life-changing biblical teaching from our Life in the Word broadcast aired on more than 250 radio stations and 350 television stations, spanning nearly two-thirds of the globe.

New churches and Bible schools are built each year through the support of Life in the Word partners. New ministries to prisons, nursing homes, orphanages, feeding projects, and to troubled teens continue to spring forth as a result of the provision God has made for our ministry. Thousands of testimonies confirm that the Word of God we are sharing is changing people's lives.

Nobody builds a ministry like ours on a charismatic personality. God is the One behind this world outreach, and God is the One who has to keep it up and running. God is the One who has to pay the bills and touch people's hearts; it's not about a personality at all. If God stopped supporting us, we would all be out on the street within a month. We understand that God is a