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Imagine walking into a coffee shop. You get your favorite brew and have a seat. You see somebody across the room and decide, "I'm going to go talk to them." You stroll on over, pull up a chair, and start talking. You tell them about what you did that day. You tell them about your family and your job and eventually go on to let them know about all your life problems and how you've messed up in the past. Before they can get a word in, you excuse yourself and leave the coffee shop.

Assuming the above scenario actually took place, would you say that you had a relationship with the person? You know nothing about them. You don't know what they love, what they hate, what they're like. You don't even know their name. Of course this is not a real relationship.

Some people are like this with God; they'll go to church or conferences where they will talk about God and talk to God through prayer... but they don't know what God is like. They don't know what He loves or what He hates. They don't even know His name. Why? Because they have not taken the time to make His Word, The Bible, a part of their lives.

The Bible is a valuable gift from God, because it shows us what He is like. It is one of the most prominent and practical ways that God communicates to us. Through some books of the Bible, such as The Exodus, we see God's sovereign and mighty nature and His compassion and love for His people. We even learn His name (I AM, or Yahweh). In Deuteronomy, we see what God loves and what God hates through the commands He gives to His people. In the Psalms, we also catch glimpses of what God is like and how awesome He is through the writings of people who have had very close relationships with God. And then, of course, in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we get a very clear picture of what God is like because it tells the story of when God came to earth as a human and lived among us.

God's word is an incredibly important part of knowing God. Reading the Bible is the other half of the conversation... it's what God is saying to you. If you pray for insight or clarity on a situation in your life but then leave right after your prayer, you're not giving God a chance to answer you. It's like quickly leaving the coffee shop. Stick around... hear what God has to say. He can shed light on your situation by showing you stories of Biblical heroes who may have experienced a similar trial. Or perhaps God will even tell you some comforting or inspiring words that will help you get through the rough patches of life.

Whatever your situation and no matter how long you have been a Christian, by reading God's Word you can and will grow leaps and bounds spiritually. If you feel like you want to know God, but it just seems like He won't answer... read The Bible. Make it a daily routine. If you want to know God or find God, that's the best place to look.

"Seek, and you will find. Ask, and you will receive. Knock, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Learn more about this author, Brad Norman.
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