Intimacy with Jesus
Author: ettie.v
Author Location: Germiston, South Africa
Scriptures: Matthew 6:6; Song of Songs 1:2; Song of Songs 8:6
There’s a quiet place we can go when the noise of the world is too loud, when the labels feel too heavy, and when we need to be reminded that we are more than the sum of what people see. In that place, we meet Jesus — not just the Jesus of Sunday sermons or theological debates, but the One who knows our names, our tears, our laughter, and our longing. That place is a place of intimacy with Jesus.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” In this verse, Jesus isn’t giving us a rule; He’s extending an invitation. Come away. Come close. Be with Me.
For many of us in the LGBTQ+ Christian community, the world outside our “rooms” can feel harsh. We’ve learned to armor up. But Jesus invites us to shed that armor in His presence. Not just to know about His love — but to experience it.
Song of Songs is often read as a poetic expression of romantic love, but the church has long understood it as a picture of the love between Christ and His people. In Song of Songs 1:2, we hear the beloved cry, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine.” This is not a shallow affection. It’s deep, personal, soul-shaping love. It is the kind of love that whispers, You are fully known, and still fully wanted.
To be intimate with Jesus is to sit at His feet like Mary did, to linger even when others are rushing about. It’s to worship not with a performance, but with a heart laid bare. It’s the quiet yes we whisper when no one is watching, the tears we cry when His presence fills the room, the warmth of knowing He is with us and for us — ALWAYS!
And yet, intimacy doesn’t happen in a hurry. It can’t coexist with distraction. It calls us to set aside our phones, our to-do lists, and even our fears, to be still and silent in His presence.
Song of Songs 8:6 says, “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.” This is the fierce, unrelenting love of Jesus. His love isn’t passive. It seeks us out. It marks us. It seals us. And it changes us.
So how do we cultivate intimacy with Jesus?
1. Make space – Find a quiet space. Maybe light a candle. Play some worship music. Create a place where you can be fully present – without any distractions.
2. Be honest – Bring your whole self—your doubts, your joy, your questions, your identity. He already knows, and He welcomes it all.
3. Listen more than you speak – Ask Him, “Jesus, what do You want to say to me today?” Then wait.
4. Return often – Intimacy grows through consistency, not perfection.
Friend, if you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between your faith and your identity, Jesus is saying, “Come to Me.” He is not asking you to hide who you are. He is inviting you to be seen, held, and loved—right now, just as you are.
Don’t just settle for knowledge of His love. Go deeper. Seek His presence. Experience His embrace. You were made for intimacy with Him.
Today, take 10 minutes to be still before Jesus. Close your eyes. Breathe. Whisper His name. Let Him speak to your heart. And tomorrow, do it again. Because you are worth knowing — and He delights in being known by you.