We all have close friends, or at least we should if we don’t. We all have different criteria of what makes a friend a “close” friend, but one common characteristic is time–in one way or another, spending time together. If we were to read an article or an essay about the person and life of our close friend, we could say that we know them in a sense, as in we know “things” about them. However, that is very different than actually knowing our friend personally and thoroughly, sharing life together, having a history together and having a future together.
I think many people think they know God because they pray or read their Bible from time to time, but they don’t truly know God as an intimate friend. I know I was like that for much of my life. I thought I knew God, but He has shown me that I was mistaken-and I am so glad He did.
So how do we usually get to know someone? Through time. Lots and lots of time together. This may seem like a given, but when it comes to our relationship with God, we think that it can survive on very little face time, and I have found that is just not the case. God has so much to say to us and we need to listen in order to get to know Him. Our listening to His voice is not natural to us. We are so comfortable in this world with all of its sounds and noises. We can pray that He enables our ears to Hear and recognize His voice. He speaks to us mainly through His Word, the Bible and through and to our spirit if we have the Holy Spirit residing within us.
When you think about it, it makes sense, one wouldn’t expect their marriage to thrive if they never talked with or spent time with their spouse. The same is true with God. He so wants time with us. More so then we could ever want with Him. He waits every day to hear our voice. And He wants so badly to reveal Himself to us too. But like any relationship we have to give of ourselves too. We have to take up our cross daily, die to our self and let the Lord have His Way with us, and let His Will be done in our life (Mat. 16: 24-25) That may seem like He is asking a lot, but its really not. After all, if you are a Christian you will go to heaven when you die, and I think we Christians take that for granted sometimes. And even more than that, God is offering us in this life and in heaven the most amazing, interesting, fulfilling and satisfying relationship we could ever ask for.
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