The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel Youth · Nicky and Pippa Gumbel

Day 78: How to Develop Intimacy with God

March 19, 2026·13 min·1 clip

How did Moses lead at 80 and David kill a giant as a teen through their intimate relationship with God?

This episode is a daily devotional focused on cultivating intimacy with God, framed as day 78 in a 365-day Bible reading plan. It opens by questioning how biblical figures like Moses, David, and Jesus achieved deep relationships with God that impacted their actions. The host references American pastor John Wimber, who emphasized that intimacy allows one to hear God, see His work, and engage in the miraculous. The discussion then turns to Psalm 35, using David's life to illustrate three challenges to intimacy: facing opposition, dealing with unanswered prayer, and acknowledging personal failure, with honesty as key. A New Testament passage from Luke 2 recounts the story of 12-year-old Jesus in the temple, where his wisdom amazed teachers, highlighting that intimacy leads to growth in wisdom. The episode contrasts knowledge with wisdom, noting wisdom comes from above and is holistic, affecting one's entire life. It outlines four lessons from Jesus' example: wisdom comes from listening, leads to simplicity, is holistic, and should grow over time. An Old Testament reading from Numbers describes Moses hearing God's voice in the tent of meeting, emphasizing the importance of setting aside time for two-way communication with God. The episode notes that in the age of the Holy Spirit, believers can experience this intimacy anywhere through the spirit of adoption. It includes a personal anecdote from Pippa Gumbel about momentarily losing a child, paralleling Mary and Joseph's experience. The episode concludes with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit for greater intimacy.

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