As I read through my Beginner’s Bible at age 6, I first believed that Jesus is real and God is the King. I could feel in my heart that the stories in the Bible were truth and I knew without a doubt that Jesus lived. I grew up going to Sunday school, VBS, reading the Bible and praying before meals. I learned how to live a life that was pleasing to God and I tried to be good. As I got older I started having questions that no one could answer; I had questions that were best answered by someone with higher knowledge. That was when my dad encouraged me to ask God those unanswerable questions. That notion was foreign to me. If I asked, how would he answer? How would I know it’s God speaking? Will I hear a voice? Will I see Him? My dad prompted me to just ask and I would know.
Once I learned what He sounded like (a gut feeling, a new genius thought, a Bible passage or a physical sign), I began regularly asking Him questions about my direction in life and things that caused anxiety. I always asked if things would work out and if I would be ok, or if a loved one would be ok. My relationship with God consisted of me asking questions and Him answering; much like a genie in a bottle type relationship.
As I grew older I realized this wasn't much of a relationship…me asking and Him giving felt a little one sided. I knew from my childhood about Him and from my teens that He spoke; however, I didn't know much about His character. You see, when you really know someone, you can predict what they're going to do or say. You know how they are going to treat you and how they feel about you. You know whether they will show up or if they really care. I wanted to KNOW God. He knew everything about me, and all I knew was what I had read.
When my husband and I stepped into the ministry together, I received a crash course on knowing God. We started praying together and separately. We each started spending time in His presence. We went to conferences and sought prophetic words. We witnessed and performed (through God) miracles, signs and wonders. We spent (and still spend) so much time with Him, hearing from Him and conversing with Him that now we KNOW him. I know His character, that He will always speak and how He feels about me. I know that He is always good, always there, always loves, always protects and always provides. I know who He is because we have dates, and sometimes He calls when I don't expect it. He's helped me through the toughest of times, and He's been there to rejoice and celebrate in the best of times. He's with me in my sleep and there when I wake up. He's my best friend, greatest supporter and an excellent Father. He fills all the holes and gaps and even makes my cup overflow.
I want you to know Him, too. I want you to go from just believing He exists to having a relationship with Him. If you already have a relationship with Him, I want you to have more; I want your eyes and heat to be opened to new realms of love and knowing with Him. Please pray for these things and watch the fruit of your best friend being the King of the universe.
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