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One of the most exciting things for me is to hear my soon-to-be-born son’s heartbeat! After 15 years of waiting, I am about to be a first-time Father. My wife and I have made frequent trips to the doctor’s office. At each visit, we have the joy of hearing his heartbeat. Each time is very impactful for me. I have recorded every one.

A heartbeat speaks of life and love. Sometimes finding baby’s heartbeat is not easy. The doctor must move his wand around to find the right spot that will cause us to hear it. Each time reminds me that I am that much closer to holding my baby in my arms. If you are a parent already, you know what I am talking about. If you have been struggling to have a child know that God answers prayers.

Speaking of closeness between a father and a son I want to parallel this with the love of the Father toward us. He wants us to get close to hear His heartbeat. He didn’t create us to be distant, but He draws us close to Himself.

1.    God does not have favourites, but few dare to hear His heartbeat.

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” John 13:23-25

Jesus had 12 disciples, yet only one is said to have gotten close enough to lean upon his chest. I believe he felt safe, and he could hear the Father’s heartbeat. If you read the whole Gospel of John, you will notice that John is speaking of himself. He was the one whom Jesus loved.

When you get close to God’s Spirit and spend time in His Presence you begin to understand that you are loved. Every one of us can say, “I am the one that Jesus loves.” He was not the only one Jesus loved but he felt that he was closest. He could feel the love Jesus had for him.

We can all feel this love. It takes time, even effort, lots of it. We will need to deny ourselves and follow Him. The cost of feeling this kind of love is to forsake the world and follow Him.

2.      Jesus had twelve disciples, but only three were close.

Peter, James and John are mentioned often in Scripture. Their names come up because they often walked with Jesus. They saw things the other disciples did not. Jesus asked for them only and excluded the other disciples. How would that go over in today’s world?

These disciples seemed to go to Jesus more than the others. The nine others were usually around, however, they seem to have been hanging out in the back. Each disciple was being used by God to do miracles, but certain special revelatory events they were excluded from.

One example of something that only Peter, James and John were a part of was the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:51). Everyone was allowed to be with Jesus until He entered the house. They followed Him seeing Jairus’ despair, probably desiring to see what miracle Jesus would do. They had walked for a long time, saw a miracle on the way, yet when they arrived at the house, Jesus told only Peter, James and John to enter.

Another example was the transfiguration. This was a huge event, yet only Peter, James and John were there. He also told them not to tell anyone (Matthew 17:1-9). Imagine being a part of the core group, but yet you were not invited to such an event. How would the three have felt to not be able to talk about their experience?

I desire the same privileges that Peter, James and John had. I want the invite when Jesus says only a few can come with Me to see this. Very few people even know of this type of access to Jesus. Jesus is calling us deeper into His Presence.

3.      We hear Jesus’ heartbeat by spending time in His Presence.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

As we behold Him, we become transformed into His image. The longer we abide in His Presence the more we become like Him. Your heart begins to beat like His. His desires become yours. After a while you only want to be with Him. Each day we can draw closer to Him.

Conclusion:

God wants us to hear His heartbeat. He created us for intimacy. I believe He has called each one of us to special assignments. He will not allow others to fulfill them. Only you can do what He has called you to. The more intimate we become with Him the more we will see, the more revelation we will receive.

It is never too late to begin this journey. You can live a life of intimacy with God. Begin with just a few minutes a day. Find a time each day to seek His face and pray. After a while, just a few minutes will not do. You will desire more. That is when you begin to hear His heartbeat. You become close and your life will never be the same.

Steven Stoffelsen

Authour of Trusting God’s Timing

Founder of House of Refuge Street Ministries