- Psalms 103:1-2 - Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
- Jeremiah 17:7 - Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
In a true relationship of love, both parties want to know each other more deeply. But we, as believers, sometimes become self-focused and forget that God should be at the center. When this happens, we go to church or to personal prayer time just to get inspired, find help, or feel good about ourselves. However, God's purpose for intimacy is to reveal Himself to us.
Part of the problem is that we want to live the life of faith as 'comfortably and safely' as possible. Reading the Bible, praying, and going to church are relatively easy. But walking by faith or going through hardships is much harder.
A close relationship with God is not just theoretical knowledge. Truths about God truly become ours not when we just read them, but when they are lived out in our lives.
The way to know Him like this is simple but profound: trusting God and following Him every day. As we do this, we know Him more intimately. For example, we may know that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, but we truly understand it only when we personally experience His comfort in times of need.
The Christian life is not just about feeling good or getting maximum benefits. God builds a personal and deep relationship with every believer. Through this relationship, He reveals Himself to us step by step, according to our needs.
Reflection
When facing difficulties today, are you just looking for comfort, or is your goal to know God more deeply in that situation?