Can I Actually Know God Personally?
Yes. Not just know about Him, but actually know Him. That was the whole point from the beginning.
Yes. Not just know about Him, but actually know Him. That was the whole point from the beginning.
God created us to be in relationship with Him. In Genesis, God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. Then they sinned, and the next time God showed up, "they hid from the Lord God among the trees" (Genesis 3:8 NLT). That's been our problem ever since. Sin didn't just break a rule. It broke a relationship. The good news is that Jesus came to fix exactly that. Grace is an open door back into the house.
You might be thinking, "I believe in God. I go to church. Isn't that knowing Him?" Not necessarily. You can know a lot about God and never actually meet Him. Before he became Paul, Saul had memorized the Scriptures, prayed, fasted and tithed. He knew more about God than anybody in the room. And he'd never met God. He was actually fighting against the God he thought he was serving, until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).
"Okay, but God has never knocked me off a horse with a light from heaven." Me neither. Most of us won't get a Damascus road. But God still wants to be known, and starting is simpler than you think. A relationship with God doesn't start with you trying harder. It starts with you saying yes to what Jesus already did.
Admit you've sinned. "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3:23 NLT).
Believe Jesus paid for it. He lived the life you couldn't, died in your place and rose again.
Turn and trust. Turn from your sin and put your whole weight on Jesus.
Tell Him. You don't need fancy words. Something like: "Jesus, I've sinned, and I can't fix it. I believe You died for me and rose again. I'm turning from my sin and trusting You. Be my Lord." The words aren't magic; the trust is what matters.
Keep talking. Relationships grow with time. My wife can text me, call me, talk to me, or just give me a look, and I know exactly what she's saying. God speaks in different ways too, but the main one is the Bible. Start with five minutes a day in the Gospel of John and a simple, honest prayer.
If you just took that step, tell someone, and reach out to us. We'd love to celebrate with you and help you take the next one. When you're ready to go deeper, read What Is the "Presence of God"? and How Does God Speak Today?
So start where Ananias did. When God called his name, he just said, "Here I am, Lord" (Acts 9:10 ESV). You can pray that today.
Genesis 3:8; Acts 9:1–20; Romans 3:23; Acts 9:10