Knowing God truly and intimately is the greatest quest and highest pursuit for every believer. It brings the greatest joy, purpose and meaning that we can experience in this lifetime. But how can sinful, limited humans really know the infinite, perfect Creator? Thankfully, God wants us to know Him and has given us the means to do so in His Word.
The key to truly knowing God is having a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. As we put our trust in Christ for salvation, His Spirit comes to live within us, giving us access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Through Christ’s work on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and we are counted righteous before God, able to approach Him without fear (Romans 5:1-2). When we have peace with God through Jesus, a lifelong journey of knowing Him more begins.
There are several essential ways God has provided for us to deepen our knowledge of Him through relationship.
Reading His Word
The Bible is God’s written revelation to humankind. Through its pages, we learn who He is, how He acts, what He expects of us. There is no substitute for regular Bible reading in getting to know the Lord. As we study the Scriptures, we begin to understand His character and ways at deeper levels. The psalmist said God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). It illuminates our understanding of who God is and how to follow Him.
From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His nature and truths about relating to Him. In the Law, we learn of His holiness and righteous standards. In the histories, we see His sovereignty, justice and faithfulness to keep promises. In Psalms, we get a glimpse of His glory and find words to express our own prayers and praises. The prophets call God’s people back to faithful relationship with Him. The Gospels showcase Jesus as God in flesh, the perfect representation of the Father. Acts and the Epistles provide the early church’s Spirit-guided understanding of God’s work in Christ. Revelation gives a final vision of God’s plan to defeat evil once for all and usher in His eternal kingdom.
As we read the Bible, we come to know God’s character – His love, patience, power, faithfulness, holiness, mercy and much more. We learn how He relates to humanity in covenant relationship. How He calls people to live in fellowship with Him by grace through faith. How He proved His love by sending Jesus to die for our sins. As we apply ourselves to study Scripture, we begin to know the Lord in deeper and fuller measure. His Spirit enlightens His written Word to our hearts in life-changing ways.
Prayer
Prayer is an essential avenue for knowing God more intimately. Through Christ, believers have direct access to the throne of grace, where we can make our requests known and cast our cares on Him who cares for us (Hebrews 4:16). God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him as a loving Father and friend (Philippians 4:6-7). As we do, we grow in our understanding of His faithfulness, care, wisdom, patience and more.
Jesus gave the Lord’s Prayer as a model for addressing God and seeking His kingdom (Matthew 6:9-13). We come to know Him better as we align our petitions with His will, seeking first His righteous rule in our lives and world. The Holy Spirit likewise prays for us, bringing our needs before God beyond our limited understanding (Romans 8:26-27). As we see prayers answered and needs met, we know He hears and cares.
God also speaks to us in prayer, whether through His still, small voice or the spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15). As we take time to be still before Him, He grants guidance, encouragement, conviction and comfort. By regularly engaging with God in prayer – worship, confession, supplication and listening – we grow in knowing Him more intimately.
Obedience
A third essential way we come to know God more deeply is through obedience. Jesus said those who love Him will keep His commandments (John 14:15). As we walk in adherence to God’s moral law and Spirit-led prompting, we begin to understand His heart and ways at much deeper levels. Like a faithful marriage relationship, intimacy with God grows as we choose daily to align our lives with His will.
In the process of learning God’s commands and putting them into practice, we grow in knowing His character and heart. We better understand aspects like His holiness as we flee sexual sin; His love as we lay down our lives for others; His grace as we forgive those who wrong us. The more we walk in obedience, the more we comprehend God’s nature from doing life His way.
Moreover, obedience positions us to receive greater knowledge from God by His Spirit. He promises to make known His ways and secrets to those who follow Him wholeheartedly (Psalm 25:14, Daniel 2:22, Amos 3:7). Revelation flows from relationship. As we choose the path of righteousness, God opens our eyes to understand His truth in ever-increasing measure.
The Word, Prayer and Obedience Together
While reading Scripture, prayer and obedience are each vital to knowing God intimately, they were never meant to operate independently. Each complements and energizes the others in a dynamic cycle:
– As we read God’s Word, our passion for prayer and obedience is fueled with greater understanding of His truth.
– As we commune with God in prayer, our devotion to Scripture and willingness to follow Him are strengthened.
– As we walk in obedience to God’s commands, our eyes are opened to understand the Bible and prayer at deeper levels.
The Word, prayer and obedience work synergistically to help us know God more fully and deeply. One without the others would leave our fellowship with the Lord incomplete. It is only when we devote ourselves to all three that we gain the fullest understanding of who God is in intimate relationship.
The Role of the Spirit
Knowing God in a transformative way depends entirely on the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). He reveals the heart of the Father and Son to us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). Part of His ministry is to glorify Jesus and take what is His to disclose it to us (John 16:14-15).
As we read the Word, the Spirit makes it come alive. Dry facts become living truth transforming our inner being. As we pray, the Spirit intercedes for us before the Father with groans too deep for words. He articulates the longings of our soul beyond our understanding. As we seek to obey, the Spirit empowers us to walk inGod’s will and ways that transcend our natural ability.
The Spirit is the vital link who joins our spirit to the Spirit of God, granting true relationship and fuller knowledge. Without Him, we could never begin to know the Lord in intimate ways. Solving this mystery depends on receiving the Spirit by faith in Christ. He then enables us to grow in understanding through spiritual means – the Word, prayer and obedience.
The Blessing of Knowing God
The quest to know God fills the heart of every believer with longing. Like Moses, we desperately want to see the Lord’s glory (Exodus 33:18). The good news is that God wants us to know Him. When we seek Him with all our heart, He promises we will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13). What begins as small glimpses can develop into an intimate relationship beyond our greatest dreams.
The blessing of knowing God is unspeakable joy. The psalmist said, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). As we grow in relationship with the Lord, we experience the delight for which we were created. We were made to walk with God, fellowship with Him face-to-face, partner in His eternal purposes. While sin blocked this relationship, Jesus’ work enables it to be restored. As we seek and find God through spiritual means, joy surpassing understanding becomes our strength.
Knowing the Lord deeply also grants the greatest purpose. We align ourselves with His ultimate plan of redemption launching His kingdom on earth. God promises to use those who know Him in mighty ways (Daniel 11:32). Paul considered everything rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). When we know the Lord intimately, we partner with Him to fulfill our destiny and renew the world.
God created us for intimate relationship with Himself. By His Spirit, through Christ, He has made the way for us to know Him through His Word, prayer and obedience. May we devote ourselves to pursuing the lifelong journey of seeking, knowing and enjoying unbroken fellowship with Him.
