Lesson One - Developing Trust Section 8

Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

Philippians 3:8-11
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

a. what do these verses say about our privilege of knowing God?
It makes everything else we have seem like rubbish. It is the single most important gift we can be given.

b. Knowing God is more than simply knowing facts about Him. What does it mean to know God?
The saying "to Know me is to Love me" takes on a whole new meaning. No one truly loves a fact, but I think that truly knowing someone is to love them.

c. What are you doing to get to know God better?
I'm taking two bible studies, joined a shepherd group and am attending church to learn from His word to find His meaning to become sanctified in Him so that I can be the person He created me to be - not the person I think I should be.

d. Do you need to make or renew your commitment to these actions?
every day.

e. Write a prayer in which you express your desire to know God more intimately.
Dear Lord,
I want to thank You for everything You have given me. Even though as a sinner I was and never will be worthy on my own, I know that You gave Christ to me personally because You Love me. I want to learn and grow in You. I want to have a relationship with You that isn't just about obedience but is about love and trust - one that is personal and not distant and abstract. Please open my heart to the changes that You want to make in me and give me the patience and strength to know deep in my heart that whatever trials are placed in my path are there for Your purpose and are designed to your plan - which is always for the good and never for the bad.
Amen