No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, it is never too late to begin pursuing a deeper relationship with Him. Whether you are already passionate about Jesus or know Him only on a surface level it is wise to press on, “toward the goal for the prize of upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). No one can know God apart from His Word, since He speaks to us through it, revealing who He is and what He does. It is imperative for us to adopt the habit of reading the Word every day. We should be willing to spend time alone with the Father in prayer, meditation and worship. One of the main reasons why some do not have a close relationship with Jesus is that they are unwilling to invest the time needed to know Him better.

The depth of any relationship depends on the level of trust. As we take the steps of obedience, the Lord will reveal more of Himself. We need to observe how Christ works in our lives by paying attention to how God operates, then we will become familiar with His ways and goals. We must be willing to make Jesus our top priority and be willing to lay aside anything that competes with our loyalty and devotion to Him. Knowing Christ intimately is possible for all believers. The key is persistence. So forget past failures and press on. Find an example to follow. This new year, let us make our journey of intimacy with Christ a top priority. Let our resolve put Jesus at the center of our lives! Happy New Year! – Philippians 3:14