What Keeps You From Knowing God?

What keeps you from knowing God?

Nobody is perfect and as we go over these different bible study topics, it becomes ever clearer just how imperfect we are and just how important it is for us to always remember. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, because its human nature to fall short of perfection. God created each of us and knows all our hearts, and even though we aren’t perfect he still wants to know us and have an intimate relationship with us. He knows our hearts and believe it or not still wants to know more of us. That relationship doesn’t mean how many good deeds you can do, it doesn’t mean how much money you give to the church but rather its about you and Him. Its about whether you first of all believe in God’s love for you. Secondly whether you believe Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through him we can know and experience a personal relationship with God.

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God" (1Peter 3:18).

"But God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

We must each respond to Jesus Christ by placing our trust in him as our Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God personally.
The response involves two parts.

Firstly, agreeing with God that we have sinned (offended him) and deciding to turn from our sin. (Repentance) Acts 2:36-38

Secondly, trusting Jesus Christ to forgive us completely because he died for our sins. (Faith) Romans 10:9,10

Once these first tasks are complete, then a truly awesome intimate relationship can begin with God. This relationship should be something you seek out everyday, not set aside, and in the same way it shouldn’t just be something you do everyday, it should be something you WANT to do everyday, its not about checking the box, its about growing in your relationship with God. Within the relationship, like many others there is this precious thing called trust. Trusting in God must be something you do without hesitation, its not easy at times, but God will provide you with what you need. He doesn’t place things in your life to watch you fall, but rather he does the opposite, he seeks to watch you grow from what you are dealing with in your life. Trust, in my opinion has a lot to do with our faith. Faith in God and faith in God’s plans for your life are very important to having an intimate relationship with the Lord. Faith needs to be like a solid unyielding rock, but I know that’s far easier said than done. Like many if not most people, I have trouble with faith and trusting in God’s plans for my life. But we must be strong and hold tight to our faith and to God’s plans for our life. I just want to conclude with one final thought about our relationship with God, and that is the importance of prayer. Prayer in my opinion is key to having a successful relationship. Prayer is simply another form of communication, and some people would say its only a one way communication. But I disagree, I’ve felt God speak to my heart not in the same way you and I would speak but rather in a deeper more intimate way. He can lay whole ideas for my life directly to me without hesitation. I know there are people who believe in different ways to communicate to God. But I’ve always known I have a direct line to God. I don’t need anyone to speak to him for me. I know no matter where I’m at or no matter what I’m doing God is always listening to me and loving me. Its amazing to know you can speak to God whenever you want and know he is listening and will answer if you just allow yourself to listening and truly hear the Lord speak to your heart. I would just like to encourage others to pray as often as you can and to open up your hearts to the lord. And for those who don’t have the kind of relationship I’ve described I would like to encourage you to trust, have faith, and pray to the Lord and ask him into your heart and for you to believe in your heart the love and salvation you can have through Jesus Christ. The website below has more information if you want to learn more about having a personal relationship with God.
http://www.everystudent.com/au/features/gettingconnected.html

How Do We Build a Personal Relationship with God

Dear Lord, bless all of us. Open our hearts and minds to your words. Help us to build that personal relationship that I know you want with us. Show us your will for our lives and give us the strength and perseverance in living your will. Amen

2 Corinthians 13:4 (New International Version)
4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you.



I have often said and heard others say, they want to deepen their personal relationship with God. But, what exactly are we seeking? If we look up the word relationship in the dictionary we find the following five characteristics:
1. Connection
2. Friendship
3. Behavior or Feelings toward somebody else
4. Bond/Link
5. Connection By Family

So what I believe we are looking for is a personal connection, that is strong like a friendship, that these feelings we have are returned, that the bond/link is unbreakable, and that we become connected like a family. The Bible tells us over and over that is exactly what God is offering us.

How do we build this type of relationship with God? I believe it is the same way you would build a personal relationship with anyone. But, there is one major difference God will never disappoint us like others will. God is perfection thus, his love for us is perfect. So how does one build a relationship? I believe there are three main ways to build the personal relationship we are looking for.

We must seek presence.
We must trust in God's Love For Us
We need to build our bond with God by learning to live as he did.

1. Seeking God’s Presence.

What does this mean? Think about this in terms of building a friendship with someone you met and really think is fun and interesting. How do we build these relationships? We call them on the phone and talk, go out to eat or a movie (we find their interests, dreams, and desires). We want to know where they are from and where they are going. Well it is the same with God. Okay we can’t go to the movies but we can do a lot of things that will help us Seek His Presence.

We must read the Bible. God has given us the Bible as his spoken word to us. It is stressed over and over but cannot be said enough. When you read the Bible God will use his words to speak directly to your heart. Many complain that when they read the Bible they do not understand what is being said. That is a major cop out – there are many study guides and newer translations that can help us with understanding. God will reveal to us his purpose for us if we ask.



Psalm 119:11 (King James Version)

11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

That is the Second way we seek God’s presence is through Prayer. We MUST spend time with God. This is how we will develop a true walk with our Lord. When something good or bad or sad happens in your life, if you are like me you cannot wait to get on the phone and talk to someone you love and give them the 4-1-1. Well, God needs to be the first "phone call" we make. I love the fact that I have God's direct phone number and don't need an operator to connect my call. I believe that we should want to rush to the Lord in prayer each day. This needs to be a personal one on one with our Lord. I don't have to wait in line to get his attention. He love me and want wants me to come to him and lay my burdens at his feet. We must talk to him and listen for his answers. We must not just talk to God when we have a problem. How many times have you waited till the end of the day when you are lying in bed to take the time to pray? What happens??? I can assure you that Satan will find his way into that moment. He will give you magic sleeping dust to sleep or through thoughts of the day into your mind and distract you from your time with the Lord. Satan does not want us to find this personal relationship with God. He wants us to loose our focus and not grow into strong Christian examples. Let me give you a little more to think about - if we want our relationship with God to be strong and on a personal level why is it that we often seek his presence at the end of the day? Why do we not find a time, everyday, time set aside just for our walk with the Lord.

Colossians 4:2-4 (New International Version)
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 (New King James Version)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How else can we seek God’s Presence? For many of us Christian music can bring us closer to God’s presence. Listening to ministers preach, youth leaders, seminars, books, tapes, or any other media that talks about God will help you grow to know God further.



2. Learn to Trust in God's Love for Us.

What does this mean? To me this means that we must have FAITH. Faith is a funny thing. One day I have a lot then the next day I am struggling to let go. Like I said before it sucks to be human. God will not let us down. His love for us should never be in doubt. John 3:16-17 says it all to me:


16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.



3. Seeking the special bond with God by living a life that will bring us closer to God.



How will I ever be able to follow God's commandments or live the way God wants me to? Will this really help me to feel closer to him? What will help me link or bond my life to him? I believe that the only way to be closer to someone is to spend time with them and to respect and honor their beliefs and needs. I believe if we try to live like Jesus is walking beside us each day (because he really is) imagining that he is watching over everything you do and say (because he is) we will draw closer to him because we will be living more like Jesus and we will be following his examples. Of course we will never achieve perfection, but if we strive to live and love like Christ, I believe he will bless us and we will find ourselves drawing closer to him in all ways. The best part is that once we confess our sins we are apart of God's family immediately and it isn't dependent on us being able to earn this love. Just like building a relationship with someone you need to really put all of yourself into it.

John 14:15 (New King James Version)

15 “If you love Me, keep[a] My commandments.

I am sure that I have missed other ways for us to build our personal relationship with God - so share your feelings about this. Remember God wants this relationship just as much as we do. He is always there waiting for us to draw closer to him.

Believing in God's Blessing On Your Life

Here is my prayer for you today. Dear Lord, bless those who read this Bible study. I pray that these words bring them encouragement and helps them keep moving towards their goals. Amen.

Today I am going to ask you to think about how you feel about God's timing in your lives.

Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Have I asked God for something over and over but felt as if He wasn’t listening?
2. Did you settle for something because you didn’t believe God was going to bring you what you really wanted?

I imagine if you are like me you have felt this more than you would like to admit. It is hard to be so human, isn't it? Well, we are not alone in these feelings. God does answer in his own timing for our lives.

But I can assure you that God longs to bless us if we ask and truly believe He will.

Remember the Store of Abraham and Sarah.

Genesis 16:1-16 & 18:1-15.
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.” 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. 7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “ Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction.
12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” 13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi;[a] observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.


Genesis 18: 1-15
1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”They said, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” 10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”


God promises if we ask Him, He will give us not only all we need but also the desires of our hearts. Abraham and Sarah asked God for an heir that would carry on their legacy. After Sarah was passed the childbearing years, she lost her faith that God would provide her a son. Who would believe that a woman 90 years old would be able to have a child. She decided to take matters into her own hands and sent her maidservant Hagar to her husband. This did not bless God plan but created unrest and conflict. Imagine how Hagar felt. Sarah asked her to do something that she didn't want to do. But, God in his timing did bless Abraham and Sarah with their son Isaac. See how God worked in their lives. Unfortunately, Sarah needed to have a little more faith in God. She was rewarded by God but Hagar also paid the price for Sarah's doubt.

James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask not.” If we never ask God for what we need or want, how can we expect Him to answer us? That reminds me of the story of the old man who was complaining that God never answered his prayers about winning the lottery. When his friend asked him how much money he had wasted on lottery tickets, he answered "Oh I never buy lottery tickets." Crazy old man - God will answer your prayers but you have to be willing to do your part. Of course that is just a silly story but you get the idea. You need to do your part when you ask God for something.

Is there something in your life you need or want but haven’t asked God for it? Ask Him now. But, trust him to do it in his timing. Of course this doesn't mean that we can ask for things that won't bless the Lord. Sometimes, the answer will be "no" or it won't look like what we think it should look like. But, it will be what we need.

God promises us His best, but we have to trust Him to bring it in His time. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the night sky, but instead of waiting on God’s promise, Abraham took his own steps to insure he would have an heir. Have you ever tried to get your own blessing outside of God’s timing? It doesn't make us happy.

While we are limited to our own resources to fulfill our needs and desires, God holds the entire universe in His hands and promises to bless us from all He has (Phil. 4:19). 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


Jesus said in Luke 18:27, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God." Have you ever asked God for something that the world around you thought was impossible? How did He answer your prayer?

What are you currently asking God for that logic and reason say is impossible? It is amazing to me that God loved me so much that he sent Jesus to die on a cross and rose again on the third day that he took away my sin so I could spend eternity with him in glory BUT I doubt that he can supply my needs and desires. Why do I do that? It seems so silly when you put it in to context.

Sometimes our friends and family will feed our doubt about God providing for us. What should we do in those situations? That is why we need to surround ourselves with people who will help feed our spiritual growth not drag us down. Read chapters one and two in the book of Job. Think about how Job reacted to the loss of all he had. Would you have been able to trust that God would heal you and bless you again? I look at my life and realize how incredibly blessed I am. My life is not perfect but it is a beautiful life.

Look at how Job’s wife responds in chapter two, verse nine. Have you ever had family members that “encouraged” you this way?

Later on in Job, we see his friends’ responses to his plight. Are your friends supportive, encouraging you to wait on God’s blessing? What steps can you take to develop friendships with people who are more spiritually-minded?

For God to bless us, we must be obedient to His Word. Disobedience will always be an obstacle to receiving His blessings, no matter how small the offense. We must take great care to correct and repent of any disobedient behavior before we anticipate His blessings.
Is there anything in your life right now that might be hindering you from receiving God’s blessings? If so, write a prayer of confession and choose to turn away from that sin. Disobedience to God may seem profitable at the time, but it will never bring about His blessings.

God promises over and over in the Scriptures to bless us, even beyond what we can imagine. In order for Him to fulfill that promise, however, we have to truly believe that He will. God’s promises may seem illogical and downright impossible at times. But for the Creator of the universe, nothing is impossible.