Heidi Baker on Intimacy with Jesus: Why Abiding in Christ is Your True Source of Strength

Abundant life is about Jesus and being close to Him.

I have always loved John 15:3-4 (NIV): “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you….”

That is what intimacy with Jesus is. Not just a sinner’s prayer, not just attending church on Sunday. Every day you can have an ongoing, powerful, deep connection with Him. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to His. “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4 NIV).

Do you want to bear the kind of fruit that will last for eternity?

You must take time to be with Him. Have you ever been so rushed in the morning that you feel less kind, less at peace, less gentle? This is a reminder. Each day we need to gather fresh oil from the Lord. To face this crazy world gracefully, we need to come from a place of worship, filled with the Word of God. Spending time with Jesus, heart to heart, makes it possible.

We read in scripture that on the day of the crucifixion, the veil of the temple was torn in two. Because of what Jesus did, there is no more barrier to our coming before the Lord, night or day. Every believer has this personal invitation, a wide-open door to His dwelling place. He is calling us to be with Him both now and forever.

Learn to Live in the Secret Place

I live in northern Mozambique, which has been a war zone for more than six years. We have had to keep many of our church doors shut whenever the situation grew too dangerous. It has often been difficult to go without regular gatherings. But if we can learn to live in the secret place with Jesus, we know that we will still carry His glory wherever we go. We are called to be the Lord’s church no matter what the circumstances are, even if we are in the wilderness, or in prison, or in any other difficulty.

Many of our neighbors have suffered trauma, torture, and even martyrdom. If I only concentrated on those stories, I would certainly fall apart. But there is a secret place we can always go, where Jesus will give us all that we need to thrive. I am overjoyed simply to have quiet time with my Bible, to dance around my room, or to walk alone with Him. I know that I can’t just try to push on to achieve natural goals, or I will burn out. I cannot only try to feed more and more people, to complete new relief projects, or to build up our university. My first and most important call in life is intimacy with the Lord.

I counsel the younger generation to turn off your phones and other devices for a while. Don’t always try to multitask with God. Nothing can replace the time in your life that you spend 100 percent focused on Him. It has the power to change your life in every way.

In times of worship, I stop all other work. I am no longer trying to do five or six different things. I’m going to let go of everything else but Him. Sometimes, the Lord will still show you practical things. You may be in the depths of adoration and suddenly the name of a person drops into your mind. When the Lord is putting that thought in your head, you have an invitation to pray for that person. What He will do in those times is more powerful than anything you can do on your own. You can lift whatever person or issue the Lord shows you before the throne of grace. Let Him lead.

Sometimes we can think, I’m just going to do meetings. I’m just going to preach and be a great businessperson, scientist, or a teacher. I want to say that anything in your life that’s not connected to the presence of God is not going to be fruitful. You could be the most amazing singer in the world, but if you’re not connected intimately with Jesus, your effort is in vain.

What really matters to you? In the secret place God will speak to you about your day. He may change your plans, but His ways are always best. Your highest goal should not to be a great businessperson, scientist, singer, teacher, or even a minister of the gospel. Your work can be a true gift from God, or it can be all in vain. But if you love God’s presence and long to remain in it no matter what He chooses to do with you, everything else will become blessed.

Stay in the Word

If you do not have a foundation of time spent with Him, you will suffer much more from the shaking and tremors when this world is going through its birth pains. His kingdom is coming, but we need to stay very close to Him in order to participate with joy. Do not forget to be in the Word. The Word is a lamp unto our feet. If you don’t know the end of the book, you’re going to be afraid. Let Him teach you how real His Word is.

During the pandemic that recently swept America, people had to decide if they were going to have their own relationship with God, if they were going to pray and read the Word themselves, or simply wait for someone else’s rescue. What is real anointing? It is being so connected with God that you cannot hide it. You will overflow with His love whether you are by yourself, or with just a few other people, or with multitudes.

Prayer Over America

I pray continually for America as the world goes on shaking. I want to testify that those who place the highest priority on simply being in His presence will receive strength to overcome anything that will come. They will become like trees with the deepest roots imaginable, so that no matter what seems to be quaking or flooding or burning down around them, they will never become lost in fear. We cannot always avoid seasons of hunger and suffering, even in America, but I pray that those of you who are called by God’s love to this beautiful country would only shine all the brighter.

Let us always thank the Lord for His provision! I have seen visions of soup kitchens and bread lines and crowded food banks in America. I even saw people with nice clothes and shining cars lining up for food. The Lord spoke to me about the time and the season and He said tell the church this is their time to shine. The kind of miracles He does in Mozambique with provision and multiplication, He will also do in America. He says, “Do not fear in the shaking, do not fear in the storm.” Fix your eyes on Jesus. Allow Him to speak to you about what you are called to do in His name, and pursue it fearlessly.