After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” John 17:1 NLT

 Do you want to get closer to God? If you are a Jesus-follower you probably ask yourself, “Am I as close to God as I should be?” For most of us, me included, that question can bring up a nagging feeling of failure. No. I am not as close to God as I should be or as I want to be.

So, what do we do about it? How will we know if we are growing closer to God?

Jesus sets the example in all things, right? It would be easy to dismiss His example of intimacy with God. He was Jesus! But what if we looked at His example for clues that could show us we are on the right track?

John Chapter 17 records a long prayer Jesus prayed just before Judas arrived with the religious leaders to arrest and crucify Him. Jesus covered a lot of ground in that prayer, but He begins with a statement that indicates His intimacy with the Father and gives us clues to evaluate our own. Curious?

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” John 17:1 NLT

 Prior to this statement Jesus gave a “pre-battle pep talk” to His disciples at the Last Supper. He taught them about how to live without Him and about the coming Holy Spirit. Then He addresses the Father. Jesus’s prayer was an agreement with God’s will, a recognition of His timing and a commitment to His glory.

 What does Jesus’s statement show us about how can you and I evaluate if we are growing closer to God?

I will understand His timing. Jesus began his prayer by acknowledging that the time had come for God’s purpose to be accomplished through Him. He understood God’s time.

I have been in a waiting season, but the waiting began by acknowledging it was time to act. As Tom and I talked over some things in our current situation it became clear that God was asking me to do something different. So, I began that process. I made some contacts and took some steps, but further movement depends on the action of others. I recognized that it was God’s time for me to move and I did. Even though I may want to speed things up I recognize it is time to wait and watch God work so that His will is done.

Are you aware of God’s timing? What is He asking of you right now?

I will want His glory more than my own comfort or affirmation. Jesus wanted God’s glory above all. He models that intimacy with the Father leads to knowing when, why and how His glory will be revealed.

When what I want is overshadowing what God wants, I lose my peace. An inner struggle is a normal part of wrestling with God’s will. Jesus demonstrated that in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wrestled but, in the end, He surrendered to God will.

That’s what I need to do when I lose my peace. I need to recognize the wrestling, but then I need to surrender. When I am growing closer to God, I will know what He wants, and I will choose to do it. It will be about Him, not me.

I will understand how I give Him glory in the situation. Jesus desired God’s will above all. He knew what He was supposed to do and when He was supposed to do it. He agreed with the Father and acted in alignment with Him. Why? So the Father would be glorified, and all would see God’s good heart and love for humanity.

If I am growing closer to God, I will do the same. I fall short, though. Maybe you do, too. I may recognize God’s will but go about it my own way. I may try to speed it up or slow it down.

One of my prayers over this past year of waiting on so many levels has been, “Lord, I don’t want any Ishmaels.” Abraham and Sarah knew God’s will. He had told them clearly that they would have a child. But they tried to help God and speed things up. The result was Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar. Ishmael’s descendants are still at odds with the descendants of Ishmael’s half-brother, Isaac, who became the father of Jacob, also named Israel. Trying to speed up God’s will can have long-lasting negative effects, and I don’t want that.

Dear Friend, if you want to evaluate your growing intimacy with God Jesus gives us clues. Recognize God’s timing, surrender to His will and desire His glory above all.

I want to align with God’s will so that He is glorified. What about you, my friend?

 Key Question: How will I know I am growing closer to God?

A Scripture to Consider: After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” John 17:1 NLT

A YES Challenge: Think about your current challenges. Notice where God might be at work in you and in the situation. What is God asking you to do and how willing are you to do it? When will you take action on what He has revealed?

Prayer: Father, my life is Yours. You see all that I am facing right now. You know every challenge and every decision I need to make. Help me to discern Your will and empower me to follow through in obedience. My deepest desire is to bring You glory. Amen.