| This morning I’m reflecting on the weekly email from Marylin of Everyperson.com Sometimes, I wonder can I trust God and live His ways better than I do at the moment!” And then I think, “Well, all that I can share is what God has been saying to me; and that somehow helps me.” And all of us often need reminders of what God has already been teaching us. For instance Rev Michael, recently, has been teaching us on The Holy Spirit: living in the Spirit and being anointed. It’s fascinatingly essential and indeed essentially fascinating! The previous two emails from Marilyn were about taking God at His Word and letting His promises lead us towards deeper faith. God produces the faith in our heart as we listen and He speaks to us. So how can we grow to know God better. Jesus: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You.” Psalms 9:10 It is God himself who stands behind his word. We’re not just believing words, we are believing God himself…his character, his love, his guidance… HIMSELF. In the Old Testament book of Exodus God revealed His name to a doubting Moses “Yahweh” – “I Am” or “I will be”. And Jesus is proclaimed as “the name above all names” Philippians 2:9-11 We grow to know God through his Word, but also through answers to prayer, through the guidance he’s given us, through the actions we’ve seen him take on our behalf, through his tender correction when needed, through the peace he gives our hearts when we come to him, etc. And we also gain from other believers who know him well. Their experiences can also help shape us in a more Christlike mold. But remember we’re all individuals with different lives, gifts and backgrounds. There’s no place for envy or “keeping up with the Joneses”. God loves us all; equality through diversity. We gain insight from what other believers learn from God (especially mature believers, who know God’s word well). But don’t let it replace your personal knowledge of him. Keep your relationship with God intimate by hearing directly from him in his Word, taking your needs to him, seeking his guidance for you. The one resource we have is the indwelling Holy Spirit – God Himself. God’s gift to those first frightened, timid, confused Believers in the Upper Room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. They may have been all those negatives – but they were EXPECTANT! They had been promised the anointing and were literally blown away when God delivered. Read Acts 2 to absorb what happened and what can happen to every true believer. One advantage in knowing God well is that you can recognize what doesn’t sound like him. God does not lead by unfounded fears…“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2Timothy 1:7 God’s Word is a “lamp unto our feet!” Psalms 119:1 Yes, sometimes God makes us aware of fearful situations, where there is good reason to be afraid, and we need to know if it’s still a good idea to proceed. God will guide if we seek him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil”. Proverbs 3:5-7 is so good! God’s Word + our faith in his Word = living within God’s will. It means being led by God to accomplish what God desires. Faith comes from hearing, reading, meditating on God’s Word. Take some time …with pen and paper – jot down that conversion with God today – and every day! I’m grateful to Marilyn – one of The Findables Roger |