Who Or What Is God To You?

"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the Name of the God of Jacob defend you; may he send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion;" Psalm 20:1-2 Who is God to you? What is your idea of him? Is he a theology to you, an "ism?" Do you see him as some force or power somewhere far off? If so, where did you get that idea? You certainly didn't get it from his Word, because his Word is all about his presence in our lives, his presence in a very, very real and personal way. We are not alone. If we seek God we will come to encounter the God who is personally involved in our lives. He is not a theology, he is the living God who watches closely and personally all that we do, all that we are, and all that happens in our lives. God has presented us with the "manufacturer's handbook" - his Word, the Bible which tells us all about him, about who he is, who we are, and what he wants for us. His Word tells us why we are the way we are, and what our destiny is. He shows us all about the message and purpose of the atonement he made for us when Jesus hung on that cross, died, and then was raised from the dead - in our place. No greater love could there ever be. His Word reveals his personal love for each of us; he knows the number of hairs on your head. If God is only a theology to you, you need to come to know him personally and find in him all the answers and resources you need for life. It's all there for you, you need only pick up that Book and read it. It's not way over your head, a child can read it and grow in the knowledge of God. Start with the Book of Psalms and concurrently, read the Gospel of John. ASK the Holy Spirit to reveal his Word to you, and that's important. ASK - each time you open that Book. Read every single day and he will reveal himself to you. If you are in trouble, what a fitting time for you to approach the God who brought you into this world. He will send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you. But first you must know him. Pray with me: Father God, I know ABOUT you, but I don't know you personally. I don't know you as a personal God who wants to be very involved in my heart and in my life. Until now you've only been a theology to me, a teaching, an idea, but not a living person who cares about me. Please bring me into that personal relationship with you and teach me about yourself, for I desire to know you personally. Until now I didn't know one could. The world has led me to believe that you put us here on this earth and then said, "I'll see you at the end, I hope you make it" as you recede into the background. Oh Father, I didn't know that that is far, far from the truth. You are present, and I want to know you in the present. Show me the way, I pray. Reveal yourself to me. And I will follow you all the days of my life. MORE: WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?