Two Keys to Knowing God: Your Contribution and His Guidance

Almost every person I encounter, whether Christian or non-Christian, has told me in one way or another that they don't believe God's knowledge is accessible – they don't know how to know Him on a personal level. I have even heard it from you!

According to God's Word, the unfortunate truth is that the belief is a lie. The problem with believing the lie is that it stops you from pursuing an understanding of God. Joy and peace seem non-existent.

It is essential to understand the two keys to knowing God: your contribution and His guidance

Your Part

I'll bet you didn't even think you had a role to play in knowing God. Somehow, somewhere, along your spiritual journey, you heard that God does this, and that, and the other thing. He saves, rules, judges, and so on. But he also grants wisdom and understanding.

Let's embark on a brief exploration of Proverbs chapter 2 today. Let's see if you don't come out on the other end ready to do your part while allowing God to do His part.

~ Listen

"My child, listen to what I say…" v.1a

Before you do anything to gain knowledge of God, you must listen to His voice. How do you hear Him?

First, you find your prayer closet, or quiet room, or whatever you choose to call that place you meet God alone every day.  

Second, when you feel like praying, don't say anything. That's right! Keep your mouth and mind closed to speaking or praying.

Think about how you listen to your girlfriend. Are you talking all the time while she is talking? Are you planning how you will respond before she's finished? If so, then that's not listening, that's talking (even in your head). Come before God with a quiet spirit. Ask Holy Spirit for some of his "Holy Spirit duct tape." He'll use it to keep you from speaking.

~ Treasure

"…and treasure my commands." v.1b

The second way you gain knowledge of God is by treasuring His commands.

After Mary, the mother of Jesus, was visited by the Holy Spirit and knew she was going to give birth miraculously, the Bible says in Luke 2:19, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Mary took all the words from Holy Spirit's visit and thought about them a lot! She kept them to herself for a little bit as a great treasure she didn't share right away. Then, she put the Good News in her heart, where she meditated on it continually.

You are to treasure the commands of God. His commands are not hard to find. The 10 Commandments found in Exodus chapter 20 are just some of the places. Ponder, treasure, store up in your heart, and meditate on the commands of God.

~ Tune Your Ears

"Tune your ears to wisdom…" v. 2a

Have you ever tuned "rabbit ears?" Rabbit ears were an antenna that sat on top of the TV to improve the picture quality. When you moved the "ears," you got better reception. The screen cleared as you found just the right spot. I doubt that in Old Testament times they had anything like that, but the word "tune" here means to bend or turn your ears toward the speaker, the one who is imparting wisdom.

If you've got your back toward God, you'll never hear his precious words of wisdom. Turn around, bend your ear, and tune in to hear.

~ Concentrate

"…concentrate on understanding." v. 2b

Throughout my studies, I had to review the textbooks and my notes to grasp the material. Hearing it once did not automatically mean understanding. I had to concentrate on it.

The same goes for you when it comes to gaining knowledge of God. You can't simply attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays and expect to gain understanding automatically by hearing only. You must take the time to read, take notes, and concentrate on God's Word to get the deeper meat He has to offer.

It takes time. It takes effort, but if you're serious about a more in-depth knowledge of the One who created you, then you'll find a way to rearrange your priorities and put God first to attain it.

~ Ask while Crying Out

"Cry out for insight and ask for understanding." v. 3

Do you want to know God better? Really? Then the easy answer to your desire is to open your mouth and cry out to Him. Crying out and asking are done simultaneously. Once you've sat quietly before God listening for His voice, you can begin the process of asking for His help. It's as simple as saying "God, help me!" He already knows your request. You're asking for more of Him. He loves that!

~  Search

"Search for them as you would for silver;…" v. 4a

When you've been looking for those receipts come tax time, you search high and low when one is missing or misplaced. I know; I've misplaced important papers and spent days searching every folder, every envelope, every place until I found it, practically tearing my office apart.

You are to search for understanding as if you've lost it, as if your life depended on it. That's why Solomon (the author of Proverbs) says to search as you would for silver. If eating depended on finding money, you'd search hard until you found it.

Search for wisdom, insight, understanding through Bible reading and prayer as though your life depended on it – because it does.

~ Seek

"…seek them like hidden treasures." v. 4b

Have you ever been treasure hunting as a kid? My life revolved around finding hidden treasure in the woods near my childhood home. There were rumors that Native Americans buried there contained treasure. There were "mounds" throughout the forest, but I didn't know if they held bodies. Often, I would find an arrowhead or some other artifact. It was always fun!

My desire to find treasure followed me into my adult years. Several times, I lived in old houses and thought I could find treasure in the walls or floors. I would cut open the walls or floors where I thought someone hid something precious inside. I never unearthed anything, but it was fun searching for the hidden treasure!

Get yourself excited about a treasure hunt as you open your Bible. Pursue God within the pages of those books, and you'll find him. Like my quest in the woods as a child, you'll discover treasures of which you never dreamed.

God's Part

God doesn't ask you to go through all the motions without blessing you with the knowledge you seek. His promises are true. It's only through His part that you receive the gift of wisdom, understanding, and insight.

~ God Grants Wisdom

"For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding." v. 6

While you're bending your ear toward Him, tuning in and listening for His voice, He speaks knowledge and understanding. Now, I'm not saying you'll hear an audible voice. However, He can, and often does, talk to your spirit through His word. It is through His Word that he speaks most often. But with a closed book, it is tough for Him to point you in the right direction.

Just know this, you can't gain wisdom without God first granting it to you. It is not something you can do on your own without crying out and asking for the gift.

~ God Grants Common Sense

"He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest…" v. 7a

Are you honest? Do you come before God with an honest, open heart, waiting to receive? If you're unsure, confess your sins to God so you can have a clear conscience. Then you can be sure that God will grant you a treasure of common sense.

Common sense can help you discern between the complex passages of scripture that seem to conflict with each other. It will help you gain knowledge of God you've never had before.

~ God Shields, Guards, and Protects

"…He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him." v. 7-8

Whenever I spend large amounts of time reading the Bible and praying over the passages to gain knowledge through the Holy Spirit, I find that the devil wants to steal the treasure I have received. The world begins to crowd out what God has shown me.

This passage offers a great promise of protection against the enemy's power; God shields, guards, and protects you as you walk honestly and faithfully. This part, in which you must participate to receive protection, involves confessing your sins and becoming clean before God. It's such a simple step that you can perform at any time of the day. Ensure you have a clean heart to receive His protective shield.

Conclusion

God's knowledge is accessible through the interplay of two parts: your contribution and God's guidance. The book of Proverbs makes it simple for us to understand the two parts of gaining knowledge of God. His part works in combination with your part for your blessing and His glory.

Verses 9-10 sum it up like this:

"Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.