Tag Archives: know God

Prepared for prayer

 

Chicago Mass Choir- “I Pray We’ll Be Ready”

 

When we are talking about knowledge, we are talking about learning what is the truth and living in that. Psalm 1 provides the positive direction to making that happen. There is direction for my roots to go down into the richness of the kingdom of God. It is here that my life produces fruit. The mark of a disciplined disciple is that they do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Psalm 1 provides the incentive to pray. It starts with happiness – do I want to be happy? As prayer is displayed as a pensive prayer (meditation), prayer starts with listening for God, not talking.

But his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night. – Psalm 1:2 ESV

I am called, as one walking in a right relationship with God to continually run from the influence of wickedness and passionately embrace godliness. Happy people do not just do the right thing, they love the right thing.

A right relationship with God does not refer to having my sins forgiven so that I get into heaven when I die. Nor is it the minimum requirement for such salvation. Actually, there is no minimum requirement for salvation. A right relationship with God is becoming a disciple – someone who conformed their entire life to look like their master.

So the implied definition here is that I live dependent on meditating on the word of God. Kelly R Baker has some great thoughts in her blog – Thriving in Christ Together.  

What a Thriving Disciple of Christ Does and Doesn’t Do

Being saturated in God’s Word is a mark of a disciple who seeks to know God better. Also included in that to ask Him to hear His voice, and long for Him to change my heart through His Word.

There is a rhythm – a disciple reflects and responds to God’s Word on a regular basis in order to live as God intends. 

When I meditate, I simply chew on the Word of God.

 

 

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Axiomatic

 

As a parent, I know that I must teach God’s Word and diligently bring it forward as a loving disciple, in a pattern of discipleship, throughout my children’s life.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart. – Proverbs 29:17  ESV

As a disciple of God’s wisdom, when I read God’s word, even today, I still come to the place where I know so little in comprehending God. He alone has experienced the breadth of the universe and has harnessed the full power of nature. Has anyone else?

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
    Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
    Surely you know!

 Every word of God proves true;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. – Proverbs 30:4-5  ESV

There is no other son’s name than Jesus. He has the wisdom and power described here. Jesus has a name describing Him as “Word of God,” and so it is no surprise to find that in the next verse.

I am called on to know God, the One who sometimes shakes my foundations but the One who will not forsake me because I have put my trust in Him. I am called to follow the word of God and put action to His promises.

F.B.Meyer wrote, “What we are is more important than what we say. Our life is our best sermon. If we would expend as much care on the hidden man of the heart as many do on the outer, what lovely characters would result.“

What am I called to do with this wisdom imparted to me? There are eight parables in Matthew 13 and maybe the first and last ones may be the most important. The first one is the Parable of the Sower and here is the last one:

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” – Matthew 13:51-52  ESV

The teaching reflects my responsibility when I am taught what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about. I am a student, teacher and a leader. I feed into the household of faith. I have a rich, inspired storehouse of essential spiritual treasures from which I can draw on to perform what God has called me to do.

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