UWANA WILLIAMS

B U I L D I N G
I N T I M A C Y
W I T H G O D

EFFECTIVE TIPS TO NURTURE AN INTIMATE

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
“You have what
it takes to build
an intimate
relationship
with God"

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 Table of Content

1
What does it mean to have a
relationship with God?

2
How do I start on this
journey?

3
Can I really sustain this
relationship?

4
How can I depend on the Holy
Spirit for help?

5
Conclusion

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 1
What does it mean to have a
relationship with God?
A relationship with God begins when we
acknowledge our need for Him, recognise our sinful
nature, and, through faith, accept Jesus Christ as our
Lord.

In the beginning, before sin entered the world,

Adam and Eve had a close relationship with God.
They could freely interact with Him in the Garden
of Eden in a way that reflected His original intention
for mankind.

However, this perfect relationship was destroyed by

sin, leading to a separation between God and man
that continues to be evident across all generations.

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What many people may not fully understand or
appreciate is that Jesus Christ came to restore this
lost relationship. He offered us an extraordinary gift
—the promise of eternal life with God if we place
our trust in Him.

As Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death, but

the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ
Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

God took on human form in Jesus Christ, bearing

our sins, enduring death, and then rising again,
triumphing over sin and death.

This means you can’t have a relationship with God

unless you accept Him as your Lord, because this
acceptance serves as the foundation of that
relationship.

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 2
How do I start on this
journey?
When I received the life of Christ in 2018, I didn’t
know what to do or how to start building intimacy
with God. Even though I had accepted Jesus as Lord,
it felt as though my relationship with God was
stagnant. I remember feeling so overwhelmed,
thinking that I could never have a great relationship
with God.

There were days when I would set unrealistic goals,

like, “I’m going to pray for 2 hours every day and
read 5 chapters of the Bible.” These goals were
unrealistic because I had never even prayed for 10
minutes, nor had I successfully read a chapter of the
Bible. But one thing I did, which I’m grateful for, is
that I didn’t give up on my desire to build intimacy
with God.
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I want you to consider this analogy: Imagine you’ve
decided to take your fitness journey seriously and
join a gym. The gym instructor will advise you to
start by lifting the smallest weights, and as you
consistently do that, you can then increase the
weights.

This analogy is profound because if you start by

lifting the heaviest weights, you are likely to injure
yourself and lose the motivation to continue. To be
consistent, you need to start by lifting what your
capacity can handle, and as you build strength with
the lighter weights, you’ll gradually be able to lift
heavier ones.

This process is how I want you to approach your

devotion to God. If you struggle with prayer or have
never prayed regularly, it is unrealistic to expect
yourself to suddenly pray for an hour a day or read 5
chapters of the Bible.

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God is more concerned about consistency than
longevity. As 1 Timothy 4:15 says, “Practice these
things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see
your progress.” The focus should be on steady
progress rather than trying to achieve everything at
once. So, you might ask, how can this process work
for me?

The first step is to evaluate where you are and be

honest with yourself. If you struggle to pray for an
hour, acknowledge that, or if you find it difficult to
read the Bible, be truthful about it. This honesty will
enable you to put realistic structures in place.

As James 1:5 reminds us, “If any of you lacks

wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously
to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
God honours our honesty and guides us when we
seek His help.

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The second step, after evaluating where you are, is
to break things down into manageable portions. For
example, if your goal is to pray for an hour but you
find it challenging, you could pray for 15 minutes
four times a day.

This way, you’ve achieved your goal of praying for

an hour. The same principle applies to reading your
Bible. If you’ve never consistently read 5 chapters, it
might feel overwhelming. Instead, start by reading a
chapter a day, or even just a single verse, and
meditate on it.

Joshua 1:8 encourages this practice: “This Book of

the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may
be careful to do according to all that is written in it.”
You could also decide to read a chapter in Psalms or
Proverbs each day, building your capacity over time.

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The beautiful thing about God is that He meets you
where you are. He doesn’t expect perfection, but a
heart willing to grow. Psalm 103:14 says, “For He
knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
God understands our limitations and walks with us
step by step.

As you continue to grow in your devotion, you’ll

find that your capacity increases, and what once
seemed difficult will become a natural part of your
relationship with God.

Remember, the key to building intimacy with God

is not how much you do at once, but how
consistently you do it. As Philippians 1:6 assures us,
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Trust in
God’s process, and you’ll experience the joy of a
deepening relationship with Him.

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 3
Can I really sustain this
relationship?
This is a question I often asked myself after many
attempts and failures. It felt as though I was making
promises I couldn’t keep, leading to frustration and
the belief that I couldn’t sustain a relationship with
God.

This notion has plagued many believers, preventing

them from trying again because they believe their
lack of consistency has distanced them from God.
However, Romans 8:38-39 reassures us that nothing
can separate us from the love of God.

The devil often disguises his voice as your own,

planting seeds of doubt and self-condemnation. One
thing I want you to know is that God did not create
you to be at war with yourself.
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When I spoke to the Holy Spirit about how I felt he
made me aware of the importance of letting go of
those thoughts. To have an intimate relationship
with God, you need to release ideas like “I can’t do
anything right,” “I’m not enough,” or “I
procrastinate too much.”

Imagine someone who wants to be in a relationship

but starts doubting its success before it even begins.
Even if the other person is the best in the world, a
negative mindset will hinder the relationship from
flourishing. Romans 12:2 advises us not to conform
to the patterns and behaviours of this world but to
allow God to transform us by renewing our minds.

This transformation is key to having a beautiful

relationship with God, as it involves changing how
you see yourself. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians
10:4-5 that “the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down
of strongholds.” This means that through the Word,
you have the power to dismantle these strongholds.
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To renew your mind, replace negative thoughts
with what the Word of God says, and choose to
believe it, regardless of how you feel. Remember,
you are not led by your feelings but by the Spirit of
God. Even when you feel inadequate, remember that
Christ saw you and died for you.

Here are list of negative thoughts that can be

replaced with the word of God:

Negative Thought: "I can't overcome this

struggle."
God's Word: "But thanks be to God, who gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1
Corinthians 15:57)

Negative Thought: "I'm too sinful for God to love

me."
God's Word: "While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us." (Romans 5:8)

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Negative Thought: "I'm a failure."
God's Word: "In all these things, I am more than a
conqueror through Him who loved me." (Romans
8:37)

Negative Thought: "I'm not good enough."

God's Word: "I am fearfully and wonderfully
made." (Psalm 139:14)

Negative Thought: "I'm always going to be like

this."
God's Word: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new
has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Negative Thought: "I can't do anything right."

God's Word: "I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

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Negative Thought: "God doesn't love me."
God's Word: "Nothing can separate me from the
love of God." (Romans 8:38-39)

Negative Thought: "I'm too weak."

God's Word: "God's power is made perfect in my
weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Negative Thought: "I'll never change."

God's Word: "I am being transformed by the
renewing of my mind." (Romans 12:2)

Negative Thought: "God has abandoned me."

God's Word: "He will never leave me nor forsake
me." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Negative Thought: "I don't have a purpose."

God's Word: "God has plans to prosper me and not
to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future."
(Jeremiah 29:11)

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 4
How can I depend on the
Holy Spirit for help?
When I received the life of Christ, I initially thought
of the Holy Spirit as something I needed to prove
that I was a child of God. However, as I matured in
my faith, I realised that I cannot have a truly
intimate relationship with God without the Holy
Spirit.

Jesus Himself said in the book of John, "But I tell

you the truth: It is for your good that I am going
away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come
to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you" (John
16:7). This shows how vital the Holy Spirit is in our
relationship with God.

I highly encourage you to read the book of John, as

it delves deeply into the role of the Holy Spirit and
His importance in our lives as believers.
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Understanding this changed everything for me
because it relieved me of the burden of trying to
'show up' in my own strength. I realised that
without the Holy Spirit, my efforts to sustain a
relationship with God would be futile.

One thing I have come to understand is that many

Christians have not yet learned how to truly partner
with the Holy Spirit. I assure you, it is not as
difficult as it might seem.

The first step to partnering with the Holy Spirit is

having a genuine desire to walk with Him. It’s one
thing to say you want to partner with the Holy
Spirit, but it’s another for your heart to be fully
submitted to His leading.

David, in Psalms, expressed this when he said, "May

the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my
strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).
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This means that what we declare with our mouths
must align with the true intentions and desires of
our hearts.

Furthermore, partnering with the Holy Spirit

requires more than just desire; it requires an active
and intentional relationship. This involves spending
time in prayer, seeking God’s guidance through His
Word, and being sensitive to the promptings of the
Holy Spirit in your daily life.

The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:16, "So I say, walk

by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the flesh." This verse reminds us that walking in the
Spirit is essential for overcoming the challenges and
temptations that we face.

The beauty of the Holy Spirit's role is that He is our

Helper, Comforter, and Advocate. He is not merely
a force or an influence but a person who desires to
have a relationship with us.
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The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, teaches us, and
empowers us to live a life that pleases God. Romans
8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray
for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through
wordless groans." This shows that even when we feel
weak or unsure, the Holy Spirit is there to support
us.

To truly grow in your relationship with God, you

must cultivate a daily walk with the Holy Spirit.
This means inviting Him into every aspect of your
life, allowing Him to guide your decisions, comfort
you in times of need, and convict you when
necessary.

It’s about recognising that you cannot do it on your

own and that you need His presence and power to
live out your faith effectively.

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Remember, the journey with the Holy Spirit is one
of continual learning and growth. As you yield more
of yourself to Him, you will find that your
relationship with God deepens, and your spiritual
life becomes more vibrant and fulfilling.

So, I encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit daily,

trust in His guidance, and allow Him to lead you
into a deeper understanding of God's love and
purpose for your life.

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 5
Conclusion
In your journey to build a deeper relationship with
God, remember that it is a process, not a destination.
It begins with acknowledging your need for Him,
and it is sustained through daily, consistent efforts,
guided by the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be discouraged by moments of struggle or

doubt; these are part of the growth process. God
meets you where you are, and He is more concerned
with your heart’s desire to know Him than with
perfection. As you take steps, no matter how small,
trust that God is with you, working within you to
bring you closer to Him.

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Heavenly Father, I lift up every reader of this book
to You. I pray that as they seek to build a deeper
relationship with You, they will experience Your
love and presence in a profound way.

Holy Spirit, guide them, strengthen them, and help

them to walk in Your truth daily. May they find
peace in knowing that You are with them every step
of the way, and may their faith grow stronger with
each passing day.

Lord, I ask that You bless them with the desire to

know You more and the wisdom to follow Your
leading. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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About the Author.

Uwana Williams is passionate about helping others

deepen their relationship with God and experience
His grace in their daily lives.

Through her own spiritual journey, she has learned

the profound significance of a close relationship with
God and the vital role of the Holy Spirit in our
everyday activities.

With this book, her hope is to inspire you to draw

nearer to God, no matter where you are on your
spiritual path.

If you would like to connect with Uwana, you can

follow her on Instagram at @TheUwanaWilliams.

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