There’s nothing more precious or necessary in this life than having a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through Jesus Christ, we’ve been given the wonderful privilege of knowing God, experiencing His love, and walking in fellowship with Him. And this relationship isn’t reserved for a select group of believers who have reached a certain level of spiritual maturity. It’s available to every person who comes to God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. John 14:6 (NLT) tells us, “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”

Our relationship with God is meant to be much more than something we acknowledge on Sunday mornings or turn to when life becomes difficult. Our Heavenly Father wants us to know Him, to trust Him, and to grow in our understanding of who He is. He wants His Word to have a place in our hearts and His Will to be reflected in the way we live. As we spend time in His presence, study His Word, and learn to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our love for Him deepens, and we begin to recognize just how much we need Him in every area of our lives.

The beautiful thing about our relationship with God is that we never reach a point where there’s nothing more to learn about Him. Whether we’ve been walking with the Lord for many years or have only recently given our lives to Jesus Christ, there’s always room to grow. And as we grow, we discover that knowing God isn’t simply about what He can do for us. It’s about loving Him for who He is, honoring Him with our lives, and enjoying the blessing of belonging to Him.

“But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Jeremiah 9:24 (NLT)

RELATIONSHIP • LOVE • FELLOWSHIP

KNOWING GOD FOR YOURSELF

Knowing About God Isn’t the Same as Knowing Him

There is a difference between knowing about God and having a personal relationship with Him. We can grow up in church, attend Bible studies, listen to sermons, and become familiar with what the Scriptures teach, but none of these things can take the place of knowing God through Jesus Christ. We must come to Him for ourselves, believing in His Son and accepting the gift of salvation He has made available to us. John 17:3 (NLT) says, “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” Our relationship with God begins through faith in Jesus Christ, and from that point forward, we have the wonderful opportunity to grow in our knowledge of Him.

One of the most beautiful things about having a relationship with our Heavenly Father is knowing that He loved us long before we ever came to know Him. His love isn’t something we have to work to earn, and we don’t have to become spiritually mature before we can experience His goodness. Romans 5:8 (NLT) reminds us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Think about what that means. God didn’t wait until we had everything together before He extended His love and mercy toward us. He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, and when we accept His Son, we become part of His family.

As children of God, we’re invited to enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father and grow in our understanding of His heart. We learn that He’s not a distant God who has no concern for the things that affect our lives. He knows us, cares for us, and desires that we walk in the truth of His Word. But having a relationship with Him also means that we must be willing to give Him access to our hearts and allow Him to change the things that don’t please Him. The more we come to know His character, the more we learn to trust His love, depend on His wisdom, and appreciate the privilege of belonging to Him.

SCRIPTURE • WISDOM • REVELATION

GROWING CLOSER THROUGH HIS WORD

Getting to Know the God Who Loves You

If we want to grow closer to God, we must become people who spend time in His Word. The Bible isn’t simply a collection of historical accounts, commandments, and promises. It’s God’s truth, given to us so that we can know who He is, understand His ways, and learn how He wants us to live. Through Scripture, we discover His holiness, His faithfulness, His mercy, and the depth of His love for humanity. We also learn about the wonderful things He has made available to us through Jesus Christ. Psalm 119:105 (NLT) says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” God’s Word gives us the direction we need, but we must be willing to follow where it leads.

Sometimes we want God to give us answers about our circumstances, but we haven’t taken the time to learn what He’s already told us in His Word. We may be asking Him for wisdom concerning a relationship, a difficult decision, or something we’re struggling to overcome, while overlooking the very Scriptures that would help us understand His Will. This is why developing a consistent habit of reading and studying the Bible is so important. We shouldn’t approach God’s Word only when we need encouragement or when something has gone wrong. We need His truth every day because our thoughts, attitudes, and decisions must continually be brought into agreement with what He says.

The more we study God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to help us understand it, the more we begin to recognize the difference between God’s ways and our own. There will be times when Scripture corrects something we’ve believed for years or challenges us to change how we’ve been conducting ourselves. We shouldn’t resist those moments because they’re part of how God helps us grow. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” God’s Word isn’t always going to tell us what we want to hear, but it will always tell us what we need to know. And if we’re serious about growing closer to our Heavenly Father, we must be willing to receive His correction and make the necessary changes in our lives. We can’t hold on to our own way of thinking when His Word has shown us a better way. The more we allow His truth to shape our hearts and minds, the more our lives will reflect the character of Jesus Christ.

Putting God’s Word Into Practice

Reading the Bible is an important part of growing closer to our Heavenly Father, but we must also learn to apply what we’re reading. Here are four ways to make God’s Word a greater part of your everyday life.

READ HIS WORD

Make time each day to read and become familiar with Scripture.

MEDITATE ON TRUTH

Consider what God’s Word teaches and how it applies to your life.

RECEIVE CORRECTION

Allow Scripture to challenge attitudes and behaviors that need to change.

WALK IN OBEDIENCE

Put what you’ve learned into practice through your daily decisions.

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DEEPENING YOUR FAITH • STRENGTHENING YOUR FELLOWSHIP

CONTINUE GROWING IN YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST

Growing in our relationship with God is a lifelong journey, and there’s always more for us to learn about His love, His ways, and the wonderful life He’s made available to us through Jesus Christ. We’ve gathered teachings that encourage us to examine our hearts, strengthen our faith, and become more devoted to our Heavenly Father. As you explore these messages, we pray that you’ll be encouraged to spend more time in His presence, grow in your understanding of His Word, and make your relationship with Him a greater priority in your everyday life.