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Cultivating Intimacy: Knowing God and Studying His Word

How can you cultivate a personal, intimate relationship with God?

AdventAI

Knowing God personally

AdventAI

Knowing God personally means having an intimate and transformative relationship with Him, which influences every aspect of your life and character. This profound connection is cultivated through various spiritual practices and a willingness to surrender your whole being to His will.

💖 The Essence of Knowing God Personally

To truly know God personally is to be intimately acquainted with Him, engaging in unconstrained intercourse and finding Him to be a close, dear companion. This relationship goes beyond mere intellectual understanding or formal religious observance; it is a living reality that transforms the inner sanctuary of your soul. It means experiencing God's love, mercy, and guidance daily, allowing His truth to become a part of who you are.

🙏 How to Cultivate a Personal Relationship with God

  1. Seek and Commune with Him:

  • Prayer: Secret communion with God is vital for sustaining the soul's life. Prayer is a necessity, the very life of the soul. It is through earnest, heartfelt prayer that you can draw nigh to God, making your requests known to Him, just as Moses did when he pleaded, "Show me thy glory." Exodus 33:18-23

  • Study His Word: God speaks to us through His Word, revealing His character, His dealings with humanity, and the great work of redemption. Reading and studying the Bible is akin to "eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God," allowing His words to become a part of you. John 6:51 This deep study enables you to discern His will and live by every word that proceeds from His mouth.

  • "Be Still, and Know": In quietness, when every other voice is hushed, the silence of the soul makes God's voice more distinct. Psalm 46:10 This stillness offers true rest and prepares you for laboring for God.

  1. Obey His Commandments:

  • Practical Obedience: Your love relationship with Jesus is defined by keeping His commandments. John 15:10 This means daily yielding obedience to God and finding pleasure in His laws, becoming one with Him. The law of God is the foundation of all enduring reformation and the greatest incentive to industry, economy, truthfulness, and justice.

  • Active Faith: Living faith is a power that brings divine light into the soul, purifying the heart and sanctifying motives. It is impossible to please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6 This faith should be active and manifested in your works, bearing testimony to the world.

  • Separation from the World: To maintain a close walk with God, a separation from worldly pollution is required. This means not conforming to the world's customs or practices, but having your affections set upon God.

  1. Reflect His Character:

  • Christlikeness: To know God personally is to become Christlike in character. When you are filled with Jesus's fullness, His lovely image will appear in your life, leading others to know that you have been with Him and learned of Him.

  • Humility and Devotion: True religion involves continually acknowledging your relationship to God through your words, dress, and deportment. Humility, sobriety, and devotion should replace pride, levity, and careless indifference.

  • Self-Surrender: To live by the Word of God means surrendering your whole life to Him. This involves dying to self and seeking God with all your heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to convert your soul, body, and spirit.

🌟 The Blessings of a Personal Relationship

  • Strength and Peace: Communing with God strengthens the soul for life's trials and conflicts. It creates an atmosphere of light and peace around you, allowing your life to breathe out fragrance and reveal divine power.

  • Increased Knowledge and Wisdom: A close connection with God enables you to increase in the knowledge of God and His will. Colossians 1:9-10 This knowledge is eternal life itself. John 17:3

  • Channels of Light: Those who connect with God will reach higher and higher, obtaining clearer views of God and eternity, ultimately becoming channels of light and wisdom to the world.

  • Hope and Assurance: Knowing God gives you a "blessed hope" founded on His unfailing Word, providing comfort and assurance even in times of sickness or trial. You will know that your "going forth is prepared as the morning."

Just as Enoch walked with God in a corrupt age, remaining unsullied by sin, so too can you. His life serves as an example for those who will be translated at Christ's coming. Your personal relationship with God is the most serious and consequential matter in your life, leading to a life that reflects His character and brings Him glory.

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How to study the Bible for oneself

AdventAI

To truly study the Bible for oneself is a profound and enriching experience, enabling a direct connection with God and a deeper understanding of His will. It involves a dedicated and prayerful approach, focusing on personal comprehension and transformation rather than relying solely on the interpretations of others.

📖 The Foundation of Personal Bible Study

The Bible is the very voice of God speaking to us individually, and it must be made the foundation for all study Jeremiah 23:28. It is the only book that reveals the condition of our souls' salvation and provides strength for our intellect. By making the Bible your constant study, you will cultivate a deeper mental discipline and find your faculties enriched John 5:39.

🙏 Essential Steps for Individual Bible Study

  1. Approach with a Learner's Spirit:

    Always come to the Scriptures with a humble and prayerful heart, eager to learn what God says, not seeking to confirm your own opinions Deuteronomy 29:29. This spirit of inquiry, coupled with earnestness, allows you to discern every ray of light God presents 2 Timothy 2:7.

  2. Dig Deep for Truth:

    Do not be content with superficial understanding. You must plow deep into the mines of truth, digging for its precious jewels as for hidden treasure 1 Corinthians 2:10. This diligent and persistent effort will enlarge your mind and enable you to grasp the deep meanings of God's Word.

  3. Compare Scripture with Scripture:

    To truly understand the Bible, compare scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. This method helps trace the relations of subjects within the Bible, revealing richer treasures of thought.

  4. Embrace Daily Study and Prayer:

    Thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures is essential for gaining greater light. Neglecting daily private Bible reading is a common starting point for backsliding John 5:39. Spend time in prayer before and after your study, asking the Lord to teach you His truth and to enlighten your understanding John 17:17. A short, earnest prayer is a fitting ending for a Bible study.

  5. Focus on Personal Application and Obedience:

    The ultimate goal of Bible study is to know God's way and salvation for yourself personally. When you find truth in the Bible, it should bring joy, life, and peace to your own soul. This personal experience empowers you to speak of what the Lord has done and what He will do for others Galatians 2:20. Study its teachings with a determination to practice right principles, allowing your heart to be subdued and your character to be perfected Luke 14:33.

  6. Guard Against Distractions:

    Beware of fictional or trifling reading, which can intoxicate the brain and destroy the power of discrimination, making it difficult to appreciate the beauty in God's Word. Instead, devote your precious moments to searching the Scriptures.

🌟 The Transformative Power of Personal Study

Through individual Bible study, you can cultivate a clearer perception, distinguishing truth from error. This process leads to a transformed mind and heart, fostering an unselfish character and enabling you to understand the living oracles Romans 1:16-19. You will learn to deny self and conform your life to God's requirements Matthew 28:20. This diligent study and application of God's Word are crucial for becoming rooted and grounded in faith, resolving to keep God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. Remember, God has given you a reasoning mind and expects you to use it to come to Him individually and draw from Him.