“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord… Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV
How do we know God? Jeremiah tells us to pray and seek him with all our heart. Where can learn about God’s character? Looking at the person of Jesus, the way he lived his life, and studying his word, the Bible is one way to learn, understand, and internalize who God is. Praying to God and asking for insight, for instruction and listening to his answers is another way to learn who God is.
In the past year, I have lived in the psalms and been blessed by learning to pray through them for myself, for others, and to praise God. Psalm 103 is a great place to start to study the character of God. Read through Psalm 103. Once you are done, go back and read it again looking for key words and phrases that reveal to you who God is. Make a list of those key words and phrases. Read through Psalm 103 again, slowly, praying the words, talking to God, thanking him for forgiving us, satisfying our desires, being compassionate, being merciful, and not treating us as our sinful nature requires. Thank him for this truth, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love,” Psalm 103:8.
Soak in the meaning of, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us,” Psalm 103:11-12. Thank Jesus for his sacrifice, so that you and I can come into the presence of God. We have access to God – at any time. We can know God. We can look forward to always being with God in his everlasting kingdom. Use verses 1-2 and 20 -22 to praise God, speak truth to him, bless him for all of his blessings to you.
In Jeremiah 29:14 God promises we will be able to find God if we seek him and pray to him. Take him at his word. Use his words for your prayers and get to know God’s character in a new, deeper, and more meaningful way this week.
By Grace Hunter