Knowing God by Experience

Have you started our book of the month yet? I hope so. As I read and answer the questions at the end of each chapter I have discovered that this book is going to be a little more challenging as far as the blogging goes. Regardless, I’m going to give it a try.

Chapter one was an introduction to knowing God by experience. Blackaby had a couple of quotes that I really liked. First, “There is a world of difference between knowing something to be true in your head and experiencing the reality in your life.” This one rang a bell for me. A few years ago the Clines and I took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and The Grand Tetons National Park. Now I’m a planner and a photographer, which means that I had researched the parks and all their glory months ahead of time. I had read articles about every element of the parks, but most importantly I had looked at hundreds of pictures as I studied what “shots” I wanted to take for myself. I knew the parks would be breathtakingly beautiful. What I wasn’t prepared for was how amazingly beautiful they was in person. Pictures can never do them justice.

Grand Tetons

It’s the same with God. You can tell someone over and over about how wonderful God has been to you, but they won’t truly understand until they experience God for themselves. For example, I don’t know our Lord as the God of all comforts when it comes to the death of a close loved one. I know many people who have told me how God has comforted them through their grief, but I don’t really understand it on a personal level.

The second quote is, “Merely knowing ABOUT God will leave you unsatisfied. Truly knowing God only comes through experience as He reveals Himself to you through His word and as you relate to Him.” Again this quote would work with the examples above.

Blackaby goes on to talk about the names of God and how we experience His character through His names. I’m currently doing a Bible study on the names of God called Knowing God by Name by Mary A. Kassian. I’ve enjoyed it immensely. With each new name I study I learn more about Him. (Here is a link to a sample of Mary's Bible study- http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_wmn_KG_week2.pdf)  Blackaby’s first chapter has taught me to go beyond that and ask Him to reveal Himself to me through each name I study. I’ll leave you with this verse for today. Happy reading girls!

Psalm 89:15-16  "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. "

Grand Tetons