“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have
chosen, That you may know and
believe Me, And understand that I am
He. Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.”—Isaiah 43:10
Knowing God’s
ways is the same as knowing God, and
it is one step deeper than knowing “about”
God. God is not separate from what He
does. Everything He does speaks of
Him. His every action declares His name
and nature. This means that we can look
at our circumstances, both good and bad, expect to see a deeper meaning within
them. If our minds are closed, clouded, cluttered or committed it makes the difference in how
we understand Him.
A closed mind is
not an exclusive description of an unbeliever.
When Christians listen passively, without intending to apply what they
hear, then the seed can not germinate because the soil’s surface is too
hard. Such believers will remain shallow
in their understanding of God until
they decide to pay attention to God and obey.
A clouded mind
will hear God’s Word and get excited, but the person does not take the time
necessary to study, grow roots, and let the truth sink into his or her
heart. With little doctrinal foundation
or knowledge of God’s promises, the individual has difficulty withstanding the
problems that arise in life.
A cluttered mind is
one that is filled with the worries of life.
Their hearts are filled with briers, thorns, and thickets. A preoccupied main has little or no room for
God’s word to sprout and to thrive; therefore, little understanding of God is possible.
A committed mind is one much like fertile soil. The most intellectual person in the world, if not teachable, will miss the truth of the gospel, whereas even a young child who is willing to listen and learn will be transformed in their understanding and thinking of God.
Why is it important to understand
God and His ways? Life is all about
God and His ways. As we begin to
understand why He does what He does. We
begin to understand His heart, and as this occurs, we find ourselves experiencing
the “life more abundant” that Jesus talks about.
An excellent way for us to become more knowledgeable and familiar
with God’s mind and heart is to meditate the scriptures as we read the Word of
God. I often read the Scripture as it would apply towards me—that is, I pray His
Word and put myself in it. This makes it
much more personal to me and it gives me a clearer picture of what God is
doing:
You are gracious and
full of compassion toward me.
You are slow to anger and
great in mercy toward me.
You are good to me.
Your tender mercies
are over me.
You have redeemed me
from the enemy’s hand.
You deliver me out of
my distresses.
Declarations such as these have a powerful impart on our
ability to know God as He is—to understand
His ways.
Father—I ask You to
help me understand more about You and Your ways. I purpose in my heart to have a committed
mind and to experience life in abundance with You, in Jesus Name. Amen.
