The better I know God the easier it is for me to believe and obey!

God’s passion is for our spiritual transformation. But another couple of misconceptions stifle our growth in him. These misconceptions protest: I shouldn’t question God, but merely have the faith to obey. And, God’s will is so hard to figure out. I can never be certain of what God wants.

 

While these two stifling misconceptions are common, they both have their roots in a false understanding of God. Both misconceptions perceive God as impersonal and uninvolved in our lives. They see him as too busy to be bothered with our puny issues; too exalted to care. Such a view is a dangerous lie from the evil one!

 

God is intensely interested in the details of our lives and intimately involved in our existence. Check out what the Scriptures say about God’s involvement in our lives:

 

“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (Psalm 139:1-6 NLT)

 

A number of years ago, my wife and I were missionaries in Austria. We had befriended a local shopkeeper and his wife and for Mother’s Day they had agreed to come to church with us for the first time. During our church service a number of people stood up to share how God was working in their lives. After the service our friends complained, “How can those people be so cocky as to think that God cares about their petty little issues?”

 

Later that day, the Lord reminded me of his response to our friends’ objection. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

 

The reason I selected this translation is because it accurately draws attention to the fact that “casting” is a participle. Why is that important? Because the participle demonstrates here that we humble ourselves before God in the act of casting all our anxieties or cares on him! Trusting God with our life issues exercises humility, not pride. God wants us to cast our cares on him and he delights in lavishing his love on his children.

 

When we recognize how much our heavenly Father cares for us and wants to be involved in our lives, the easier it is for us to trust him and obey him. Also, he doesn’t hide or withhold his will from us! He wants us to know how to please him and follow him.

 

Linda and I have been married for 35 years—and we still love each other! (God is good!) After 35 years together, we often communicate without words and we anticipate what the other is going to say or do. I know what pleases (and displeases) Linda and she knows that about me as well.

 

Our life with God is similar. We are born again into relationship with him. As we grow to know him more and more we understand his character and begin to anticipate what he desires in a given situation. We know his will and what pleases him because we know him.

 

The two liberating truths that reinforce this are: The better I know God the easier it is for me to believe and obey. And, God reveals his will for me. I can be certain of it. I can test and approve it.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Rob Fischer