Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Posted by David Kitz for “I Love the Psalms” @  https://davidkitz.wordpress.com/

Original post found @ https://davidkitz.blog/2021/12/01/do-you-know-god-2/

Do You Know God?

01WednesdayDec 2021

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 36, Psalms

Tags God, Jesus, the LORD

Reading: Psalm 36:10-12

Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise! (NIV)*

Photo by David Kitz

 Reflection
Do you know God? Are you well acquainted with Him and His ways? Are you in regular conversation with Him? I ask these questions because in this concluding portion of Psalm 36 David prays, “Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.”

Knowing God is, or should be, the great quest of our lives. This is our raison d’etre—our reason for being. We were created to know and love God. The Garden of Eden was first and foremost a place of communion with God. Yet so often we see ourselves running from God, or ignoring His invitation to draw close.

Jesus gives us this warning, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

From Jesus statement here, there appear to be two requirements for entering the Kingdom of Heaven: doing the will of the Father and knowing Jesus. I would argue that truly knowing Jesus helps us to discover and do the will of the Father. If you know someone really well you know what they want—what will please them—without even asking. We need to aim for that kind of intimacy with God.

We come to know the mind of God because we have drawn close to the heart of God through time spent with Him. Two-way prayer and meditation on His word acquaints us with God’s will and His ways—ways that do not change according to the whim of man.

God is not impressed by our prophetic or miraculous powers. He is not impressed by our power over demons. These after all are gifts from Him. God is impressed by our obedience as we seek His face and do His will.

Our God is faithful. He will continue His love to those who know Him. His righteousness will constantly flow to the upright in heart.

Response: LORD God, give me a humble heart that seeks after You. Show me Your ways, O Lord. Give me a hunger for Your word. I want to know You more and more. Help me to do the Father’s will today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you get to know God better? What practices or activities grow your faith and knowledge of God?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

******************************************************************

P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=AOaemvJeYHi5AQhlDoBbqIgrnpO8USBRqA:1641993136461&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+1+John+2:3&fir=6_mbwRzeylGntM%252CTkuPNROUJXz2lM%252C_%253BnUEK_xpDvbwxQM%252C99wR9wo6TEGhUM%252C_%253B4LgarjN3orpq2M%252C6oeV9xa3sELYhM%252C_%253B2bzeDNr9TKmQ5M%252CYpDPQXVmtM1teM%252C_%253BZvaVho3YOwRErM%252CzNspv6pYVxwZIM%252C_%253B6mGpvgoB13efqM%252CeKDfdxUpJheV6M%252C_%253BuptuoDduzXAvJM%252CmI-NkugFVKWovM%252C_%253BZCh4IqJy_2xAFM%252CuFCnZXvKzsyrMM%252C_%253BRuL5aKpXvvCqLM%252CSTTcgZwOo-mrUM%252C_%253B4zQeNlszkkI1cM%252CeohoHIoXsA4pjM%252C_%253B9WZdufv02OOKyM%252CuFCnZXvKzsyrMM%252C_%253BQmrD8Ck10fd4WM%252CWwqqDW7L5Zx7UM%252C_%253BllE20DKQphw1DM%252CGvGWuxXty45TKM%252C_%253BjkpfT1T_bADo-M%252CzAJ_HyGhaMb7eM%252C_%253BIOKc-Mek1ZuvJM%252Cc1wsWbfTXQ-02M%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRjKW99pI5W1W_leBCJhblCvrD5uQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju6_yMpaz1AhUsl4kEHVAqAQIQ7Al6BAgCECA&biw=1119&bih=917&dpr=1#imgrc=6_mbwRzeylGntM