Target Point, Vol. 5 of 33 Today's Verse/Thought: Knowing God
Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8
Life Implication:
The secret to everything in life is a close personal relationship with God. You will never discover HOW and WHY God made you unless you are willing to get close to Him. Most of us stumble through life tripping over obstacles that we would not encounter were we to allow God to illuminate them. The reason why many do not go to God is because they really do not KNOW Him. Here is the formula: You will never RELY upon someone you do not TRUST, and you will never trust someone you do not KNOW. Truly knowing God is the secret to a happy, secure and fulfilled life.
Life Application:
In Mark 12:30 the Bible admonishes us to love the Lord with all of our HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH. Ask yourself right now if you are missing the mark here.
Realize that you can't get to know someone who you are unwilling to spend time with. Decide today to get to know God. Make a commitment to spend time alone with Him every day. Be careful not to fall into the trap that says because I went to church today, or attended that Bible study, I have done my God-thing. You can't develop intimacy in a crowd. You can't REALLY get to know someone unless you get alone with them.
Get yourself a good Bible, devotional, (I like Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest) and a journal where you can write down what you believe God may be saying. Begin to use them every day.
I recommend you find a read through the Bible in a year program. It only takes fifteen to twenty minutes a day and takes you through the entire Scripture. Determine the time of day that you would like to spend with God and protect it diligently. Do not become legalistic. If you miss a day, don't worry about it. Get back on track tomorrow.
The next nine volumes will help you to form some solid habits in this area. They will discuss the importance of reading the Word, PRAYING and PRAISING God.
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Finding A Quiet Place