So, you want to know God better? That's wonderful! Your desire to know God brings joy to his heart and he has numerous ways for you to achieve your goal.
From the beginning of creation, God has desired relationship with us. To know God starts with beginning a relationship with him through his Son Jesus Christ.
God loved us first and removed every obstacle that stood between him and us through Jesus. So, it all starts with getting to know Jesus and building the relationship from there.
There are many things you can do to get to know God better. Here are five to start with.
1. Get to Know God Through Praying
If you're feeling intimidated by the thought of prayer you're not alone. Religion has made it sound deep and scary as if it's something to be performed. Jesus pointed out the error in this mindset when he corrected the Pharisees performance way of prayer in Matthew 6:5:
…for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
He goes on to instruct them that prayer is between you and God:
…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father…
There are many ways to pray, and many types of prayer, but the important thing to know and remember is that praying is talking to God. It's a conversation just like you'd have with anyone you have a relationship with.
2. Get to Know God Through His Word
Reading the Bible is another way to get to know God better. You may want to read about characters in the Bible like Moses, Hannah, and Mary, etc. New believers are often directed to begin with the New Testament, primarily the Gospel of John. It contains the most infamous verse of Christianity:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
John refers to himself as the disciple Jesus loved. His gospel begins with, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). John is talking about Jesus.
There is a lot to learn about God by reading his word and discussing it with him in prayer.
3. Get to Know God Through the Holy Spirit
When Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving the world, they were sad. He told them that he had to go so he could send them the help they would need, referring to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is called the Helper, the Comforter, the Advocate, and the Spirit of truth. Jesus said he'd live in us and help us know God better.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you” (John 16:13-15).
Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit is an important part of getting to know God better.
4. Get to Know God Through Hearing
Hearing can be both good and bad. How so? Think about when you've heard something about another person through hearsay, aka gossip. You get a negative and incomplete view. This kind of hearing about God can bring misunderstanding.
The Bible says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing that helps us get to know God better is through hearing what he has to say. We can do this by reading the Bible aloud. And we can listen to the word being preached by ministers we trust.
5. Get to Know God Through Fellowship
Hebrews 10:25 talks about not forsaking the assembling of believers together. Oftentimes this verse is used to encourage church attendance, but true fellowship is deeper than that.
The best way to get to know God better through fellowship is by talking about your faith together with other believers. Talk through the hard things, ask questions, encourage one another, and share experiences. When we walk out our faith together in life, through the ups and the downs like the Bible talks about in Romans 12, it binds us together and helps us know God better.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
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Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. She’s written Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, Because You Matter, and hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Danielle https://www.daniellebernock.com/
