Knowing and Enjoying God - 2

Barron Olaf, ready for battle!

Three wonderful responses came to my query of yesterday - why and how do you know and enjoy God? Thanks Dan, Barb and Gary. These next posts will communicate the nuggests of truth they shared.

From Dan: I think there may be even another perspective. What has been presented so far seems to imply that knowing God better is something I personally initiate.

I think that God is at work at all times drawing me into a closer relationship with Himself. He will use whatever means He deems best based upon what it is in my life that is a barrier.
Sometimes adversity and sometimes enjoyment or exhilaration is His tool.

My challenge is to be prepared to recognize His outstretched hand and respond in faith. Scripture, prayer, praise, and all the spiritual disciplines can help prepare me to better perceive His hand at work.

I can hardly wait to share the other two nuggets with you in the next posts.

Knowing and Enjoying God

Barron Olaf Burwick and mother in baptism suit. Had a great trip to Kentucky where my first Burwick grandson was baptised. Check out that spiked hair at 7 weeks old!

Knowing and Enjoying God
My favorite dessert is Mississippi Mud Pie. The more I eat the more I desire – up to a point! This is a poor analogy for why I desire greater intimacy with God. But it is true, the closer the fellowship with Him, the more I desire – except there is no limit.

How do you and I enjoy deeper closeness with Abba PaPa? How is that accomplished? I’d be interested in your thoughts regarding the following. My Wednesday morning men’s group enlightened me this morning – helping me create a better balanced approach.

My view. I believe we learn ABOUT God through study of Scripture and books. Learning ABOUT God is enhanced by memorizing Scripture. However, I think the real KNOWING of God comes through adversity of some type. Pain. Loss. Confusion. Relational challenges. It is through those times that we take what we’ve learned about God, apply it to the adverse situation and a deeper connection with God ensues. Thus it seems that “NEED” is the prerequisite for knowing God more intimately.

My group concurred to a point. They said, “You’re missing something. That sounds like God is looking for ways to inflict pain to draw you closer.” The implication being that God is a sadist and I am a masochist. As Norweigans would say, “OOPHDA!” That’s not appropriate. They suggested that pleasure can be a motivation to know God more deeply. One referred to being on a mountain top during elk season and watching the splendor of a sunrise. “That creates in me a ‘want to’ rather than a ‘need to’ desire for God.”

As I revisit this study of “Knowing and Enjoying God”, I’d be interested in your feedback on these two questions: 1. Why pursue knowing and enjoying God; and, 2. How do you pursue knowing and enjoying God. Please send your thoughts, today if possible to rburwick@mindspring.com.