Cynthia Heald - When the Father Holds You Close: A Journey to Deeper Intimacy with God

1999 by Cynthia Heald

All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, 1465 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 320, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.

Scripture quotations noted AMPLIFIED are from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: Old Testament. Copyright 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Publishing House (used by permission); and from THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT. Copyright 1958 by the Lockman Foundation (used by permission).

Scripture quotations noted Message are from The Message: The New Testament in Contemporary English. Copyright 1993 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80935.

Scripture quotations noted NASB are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE . Copyright The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations noted NKJV are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scripture quotations noted NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Heald, Cynthia.

When the father holds you close: a journey to deeper intimacy with God / Cynthia Heald.

p. cm.

ISBN 0-7852-7241-0

1. Spiritual lifeChristianity. 2. Intimacy (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4501.2.H36885 1999

231.7dc21

9915857

CIP

Printed in the United States of America.

1 2 3 4 5 6 BVG 04 03 02 01 00 99

Contents

T enderness, affection, warmth, and closeness are words that help define intimacy. It is an extraordinary moment when we realize that someone loves us and wants an intimate relationship.

Our first experience of being loved comes from our parents. Typically, a mothers love is more obviously expressed and therefore more easily experienced. A fathers love, however, is often less expressive and therefore not so easily received. To be held close by a father is a special gift. If we have not experienced that fatherly warmth, we may have a longing that is hard to replace. That longing may launch us on a search for intimacy that can sometimes end in frustration.

God knows our hearts, and He understands our need for intimacy. In His abiding love for us, He sent His Son to the cross so that we could become His. Our heavenly Father wants to be the father we long for, who loves us and holds us close.

However, we often suffer from misguided ideas of how to deepen our intimacy with God. It is easy to be like the Pharisees in thinking that if we work hard and try to be perfect, then God will accept us. It did not work for the Pharisees, and it does not work for us. The key to growing in intimacy with God is knowing that He longs to be with us far more than we long to be with Him. We can approach Him freely, confident of His desire to hold us close.

The purpose of this devotional book is to lead you into an intimate relationship with your heavenly Father. Each of its four parts addresses a different aspect of the Fathers desire for intimacy. In each part, there are seven readings so that if you choose to use it on a daily basis you can read through it in a month, exploring a different facet of intimacy each week. But the book can be read in any number of waysdaily, one part every other week, or one part a month, whatever pace meets your needs. After meditating on the primary Scripture passage and the accompanying insights, you can use the two questions following the text for reflection on the Word and in prayer. With each devotional, you will find an accompanying journal page summarizing the chapters key thought for deeper intimacy and inviting you to record your personal thoughts about your dialogue with the Father.

I can think of no greater pursuit than intimacy with our Father. The amazing truth is that God Himself has initiated this pursuit and draws us into it. The Scriptures are filled with the Lords expressions of desire to hold us close. If you have selected this book to read, you probably feel as I do: growing in my relationship with God has primary importance in my life. God bless you as you experience the richest and most satisfying relationship there isintimacy with your Father.

Love in Christ,

PART ONE
The Fathers Words of Love

The Father spoke:
Come, My child: I long to hold you close.

Oh, yes, Father, that is my desire also.

I know. It is your love for Me that shows Me your hearts desire to grow in intimacy.

What shall I do to draw closer to You?

I want you to learn to quiet your heart so that you can hear My voice.

How do I quiet my heart?

By being still enough to listen to My words of love. You hear so many other voices; I want you to set apart time for listening to Me.

Will this take much time?

The amount of time is not as essential as your willingness to give Me your heart.

My heart is Yours, Father.

Good. I take great pleasure in expressing My love for you.

1
You Are Mine!

But now [in spite of the past judgments for Israels sins] thus says the Lord Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed You, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed youransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives; I have called you by your name, you are Mine.

AMPLIFIED

W ith tears in her eyes, the young woman recounted what it was like to live with a father who was rarely involved in her life. It almost made it harder on her that he was physically present in the home because he was rarely there for her emotionally. The night of her prom, he seemed to hide behind the newspaper. He never even complimented her on her dress. Now, as an adult, she realized the implications of her loss, and she longed for the intimacy only a father can give. She wanted to know himwhat he felt, what he had experienced, what he dreamed about. She needed his guidance. She felt lonely and vulnerable without the security of a father who was committed to protecting and providing for her. She yearned to be loved and accepted by the one who had given part of his life to her.

What could this young woman do? Where could she go to find such intimacy? Marriage? Close friendships?

Although love, acceptance, and sharing are elements of all intimate relationships, it is rare to experience with a husband or good friend the special dynamic of intimacy provided in the father-child relationship. A child longs to feel safe, secure, and confident in her fathers unwavering love. She yearns to know that it is acceptable for her to be dependent and needy, and that her father has mature wisdom to impart to her. She needs assurance that her father loves her passionately and is committed to her forever.

Is there such a father? Does he desire intimacy? Can he love one more child? With thundering assurance our heavenly Father answers, Come to Me. Let Me love you with an everlasting love. I desire to fulfill all your needs and to form you into a beautiful daughter who brings Me glory. Draw close to Me, and we will experience the precious gift of intimacy.