A couple of weeks ago my friend Jay and I were discussing the importance of books in growing a loving relationship with God, when he shared this thought:

In order to truly love someone, you really have to know the person.

For example, if I were to say that I love my wife, Marie, but didn't know her birthday, didn't know that she liked daisies, didn't care about her thoughts or convictions, or know that she had a passion for tearing out wallpaper to create new environments in the home; my statement of love would be shallow. It makes perfect sense that to really love someone you need to know them, and the better you know them, the more you are able to love them.

So, how is it that Christians come to know and therefore love God? How do we get to know him better so that we can love Him even more?   Here are a few basic ways in which you can deepen your knowledge of, and love for, God. 

Read the Bible:Man is able to know the true and living God through the truth of His Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals God's character and His plan for mankind. It is through reading His Word that we come to a knowledge of who He is. It is important to spend time reading what He has written in order to know Him better.

Pray: Talk to God. Have you ever been able to really know someone without spending time in conversation? It is important to listen to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart as you bring your adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication to His throne. Spend time listening, as well as talking, and make it a priority.   A.W. Tozer, author of several books that have become Christian classics, shares this concerning prayer, "When we become too glib in prayer we are most surely talking to ourselves."

Worship: Join fellow believers in proclaiming love and adoration for the Creator of the universe and his Son Jesus Christ. Lift your hearts, hands and voices together in praise, and in doing so you will begin to know His deep love, compassion and Grace for you.   Sing hymns and songs of worship and let your soul draw near to Him.

Study: There are so many great resources available for anyone, anywhere along their faith journey, to use in getting to know God.   The word Theology simply means the study of (ology) God (Theos). It's not complicated and sometimes the best way to get started is to just get started.   Stop in and ask our staff for some suggestions on resources to help you better know the Living God.

Listen to Truth: Sunday morning isn't the only opportunity you have to learn more about God through the preaching of His Word.   Try this link for many excellent daily Bible study and teaching programs by some of today's most well known speakers and teachers.  www.oneplace.com   Plug the headphones in while you work and let your mind soak up knowledge of Him

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"I don't know how to love him" is a song that I'm sure many of us have sung as we've tried to learn about God but it doesn't have to be that way. There's another song from the 50's that states, "To know him is to love him".   The best way for us to love our Lord is to know him.  

- Get to know Him.

Blessings,