Most people would say they know of God or know about God but do they know God? Likewise, many people know about their favorite singers but do they really know them personally? Not likely unless they have a personal relationship with them and spend time with them.
Knowing God is similar. Knowing Him means you have a relationship with Him and you speak to Him and listen to Him. It means you read His Word and seek Him daily. It means you know that He loves you and delights in you … yes even though you are not perfect and still struggle with sin.
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:6-8
I have found that my personal relationship has grown the most through praying and writing in my prayer journal. The most meaningful times of deepening my relationship with God have been when I have spent unhurried time in His presence worshipping Him, praising Him, being still with Him and not just rushing through my list of prayer needs.
However, when I make a point to rest Him through worship in music, stillness or praise, then I feel like I can better connect to Him and with Him. I then like to write in my prayer journal for a few reasons: (1) it helps me focus better and my mind doesn’t wander as much, (2) it helps me look back and see how God has answered or responded to my prayers over time, and (3) it allows me to engage with God on a deeper level through two-way prayer journaling.
If you aren’t familiar with two-way prayer journaling, it is similar to having a conversation with God. I will either ask God a question that I’m praying about to see if I can hear from Him on it or sense a peace or reluctance on a decision. On other days, I may write out my praise and prayers and then ask what is on His heart for me and just begin writing what comes to mind. Sometimes it flows and sometimes it doesn’t. There is no formula because God is an infinite God and our relationship with Him will look and be different. I just encourage you to spend time really getting to know Him. It is a priceless treasure that has impacted, influenced, improved and enhanced my life in ways I can’t even explain.
If you are looking for books to help you know God better, here are two that I really love:
“4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice” by Mark Virkler and “Praying with God’s Heart” by James Goll.
May you truly get to know this God who is absolutely crazy about you and desires to be known by you!
