How Well Do You Know God?
// Kenneth W. Hagin
We each have a divine destiny. But before we study what God has planned for us, we should take the time to get to know the One Who gave us the destiny in the first place. It's important that we know Who God is.
How do we get to know God? We get to know Him the same way we get to know anyone else—by spending time with Him. You see, so often we think only about God's awesomeness and power—how big He is. That's good, but we also must realize that we can commune with Him one-on-one. Isn't that a tremendous thought?
Actually, the Bible teaches that we were made in God's image for this very reason—for fellowship (Gen. 1:26–27; John 14:23). And this fellowship happens as we spend time with God through His Word and prayer.
Get in the Word!
The Bible is a book of God's perspectives. It tells us who we are as believers, what God thinks of us, and what He thinks we can do. The Word of God is a book that will help us grow to be what God wants us to be. It shows us how to develop character and integrity. It tells us how to get and use faith. It helps us have a winner's mentality.
Really, the Word shows us Who God is. He's the One Who has given us the good gifts of salvation, prosperity, and healing. He's the One Who has promised to give us all the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4) and meet all of our needs (Phil. 4:19). No matter what anyone else says or what circumstances may be saying to us, we can believe that what God has said is true.
As I was growing up, when my father told me something, I believed him implicitly. And I know that after I've told my son, Craig, something, a thousand people could tell him it isn't so, but he would stand there and say, "I don't care what you say. My daddy said it is so."
I'm going to stand up and say the same thing: "Believe what you want; write what you want; do what you want. But my Heavenly Father said that I was saved, delivered, healed, and set free. I'm going by what my Father says!" When we make the decision to know God and trust His Word in this way, there won't be anywhere for us to go but over the top!
Get in the Word!
The Bible is a book of God's perspectives. It tells us who we are as believers, what God thinks of us, and what He thinks we can do. The Word of God is a book that will help us grow to be what God wants us to be. It shows us how to develop character and integrity. It tells us how to get and use faith. It helps us have a winner's mentality.
Really, the Word shows us Who God is. He's the One Who has given us the good gifts of salvation, prosperity, and healing. He's the One Who has promised to give us all the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4) and meet all of our needs (Phil. 4:19). No matter what anyone else says or what circumstances may be saying to us, we can believe that what God has said is true.
As I was growing up, when my father told me something, I believed him implicitly. And I know that after I've told my son, Craig, something, a thousand people could tell him it isn't so, but he would stand there and say, "I don't care what you say. My daddy said it is so."
I'm going to stand up and say the same thing: "Believe what you want; write what you want; do what you want. But my Heavenly Father said that I was saved, delivered, healed, and set free. I'm going by what my Father says!" When we make the decision to know God and trust His Word in this way, there won't be anywhere for us to go but over the top!
As we spend time every day communing with our Heavenly Father, we'll learn to hear His voice in our spirit. Our prayer life will become a two-sided conversation. We'll talk to God and He'll talk to us. And He'll give us comfort, guidance, wisdom—whatever we need at the moment.
It's simple. It's not complex. Get to know your Heavenly Father. Know Him through His Word. Talk with Him. Because when you do, no sickness or economic condition can stop you, and there aren't enough demons in hell to keep you from fulfilling your divine destiny. When you're acquainted with Him, there is no way you can be defeated!