Lately I've been thinking about what it means to know
God. The verb know really sticks out to me. Some of the
definitions of the word:
1.
To
perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.
2.
To
regard as true beyond doubt.
3.
To
have practical understanding of, as through experience.
4.
To
have fixed in the mind.
5.
To
be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct
Do
you get it yet? You may have heard that saying about letting God be in
the driver's seat of your life (perhaps you've heard that little song Jesus,
Take The Wheel...). As cliche as that is, to consciously choose to let God
direct my life each day is a struggle. But that's when I have to check where my
faith is. I may say I know that God will work everything out, I know His timing
is perfect, I know He will answer my prayers, I know God loves me but am I
using the word "know" when I really mean to use the word
"think"?
I think God
will work everything out
I think His
timing is perfect
I think He
will answer my prayers
I think He
loves me
The
proof that I don't need to doubt these truths is right in the Bible. I should
be able to confidently say "I know..." without a tinge of doubt. As I
prepare to go to Sydney and minister to Muslims, I was reminded of when I went
in 2010 and I had to counteract something that a Muslim believes with the Bible
and I didn't know how. It was eye opening for me because I grew up in church, I
should know the answers or at least where to look in the Bible. I kept thinking
"how can I minister to these people when I still have doubt in my own
faith?"
Needless
to say, I'm still learning to regard what the Bible says and what I know
about God to be true beyond doubt but I'm getting there. One of my
favorite verses is Romans 8:28 and if you apply the definitions of the word
know to this verse, it really makes it all the more powerful...
"And
we know that God causes everything to work together for
the good of those
who
love God and are called according to His purpose for them"
