Know God

Have you ever been really hungry for something, but you don’t know what it is? Maybe it's pizza, maybe it's meat... you're just not quite sure. You search your kitchen, but nothing sounds quite right. That’s how it is with life and God. Philosopher Blaise Pascal said, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." Many of us try to fill that hole with things that don't fit. How many times have we tried to make money or relationships or status fill the gap deep inside us all, only to come up empty? No, God has made each one of us for a purpose: to know Him. And not just know Him in an intellectual way -- like "Yeah, I know God exists" -- but to know Him in a much deeper, real way. A way that actually changes your life.

It’s the difference between knowing someone casually and living with them. When you live with someone, you see who they really are and grow in a relationship. Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23). When you accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you let Him come into the home of your life. He's going to help you clean out the rooms and fill them with good things -- and He promises to never leave you. You might go astray, turn your back at times, make mistakes, but God promises to never leave you. He said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). So what are you waiting for? This great God loves you so much, has promised to never leave you, and wants to get started on a deep and intimate relationship. You can use this section -- and this whole site -- to learn how you can build intimacy with the greatest friend, Father, leader, ever: God.

NEW LIFE

Have you ever tried to run without breathing? It's challenging. So is living the Christian life without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is described as breath or wind. Imagine your life as a docked sailboat that wants to get to the other side of the sea. The Holy Spirit is the wind that will push you to your destination. Before going up into heaven, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). After receiving the Holy Spirit, they were radically changed. Peter, who used to be a huge coward, spoke to thousands about Jesus. Paul, who used to hate Christians, became one of the biggest promoters of the Christian faith and performed miracles. What could you become?

The key is to breathe in the Holy Spirit everyday. Think of it as spiritual breathing. Just as you exhale harmful carbon dioxide and inhale beneficial oxygen, you can empty yourself of sin and be filled with God's Spirit daily. Ephesians 5:18 says, "Be filled with the Holy Spirit." You exhale by confessing your sin to God and inhale by asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse and fill you with His power. Say you had a bad day and told a lie. You would say to the Holy Spirit, "Please forgive me for lying. I don’t want to do it anymore. Please fill me and help me be honest at all times." At that moment, God would completely forgive you and give you power to live an honest life, because Jesus promised, "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13). Spiritual breathing is one of the greatest keys to your happiness as a Christian. You can live clear and free -- with the power of God’s Spirit carrying you to where you need to go. Take a moment right now to practice spiritual breathing and search this section to learn how to live a life empowered by God’s Spirit.

PRAYER
Prayer is like a dance. A beautiful, passionate, close dance between the leading husband and responsive wife. As you spend time with God, talking and listening to each other, you will experience a life of answered prayer. Jesus said, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). And God is not a stiff dance partner; He responds to His children’s needs and wants. Watch how He responded to Abraham when God told him He was going to judge the city his nephew was living in. Abraham started with 50 people and begged God down to sparing the city if He found just 5 good people living there. And God agreed. Abraham and God were friends, so God honored Abraham’s request. God wants to do the same for you. He considers you His friend and wants to gain closeness with you and answer your prayers.

The key to the dance is faith. Think of it this way: If you were 100% sure that God would listen and respond when you prayed, how would that change how much you pray? Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." How do you get that kind of confidence? You just have to start. Think of a kid who is learning how to ride a bike. At first, it seems so scary, and he can't imagine being like the big kids who ride around with ease. But he starts with training wheels, and, with practice, gains confidence to ride like a pro. It's the same with God. As you begin to pour out your heart to Him and watch Him respond, you will see His great love for you and be convinced that He really does answer your prayers. Take a step of faith today and spend some time in prayer with God, letting Him know your feelings and asking for His help. Let this section help you gain closeness with God and see Him answer countless prayers.

BIBLE

In a big earthquake, which is the building that will stand? It's the one with the firmest foundation. If your life were a house, how firm would you want the foundation? Jesus said, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock" (Matthew 7:24,25). If you want your life to be built on bedrock, put into practice the wisdom in the Bible. You start laying the foundation of your life just by reading it daily. It can take just 5 minutes -- or you can spend 50! As you read it, you will learn how to build your life, hear from God, and become sure of the hope you have in Jesus.

Reading the Bible is like having a personal guide with you at all times. David said, "Your laws please me; they give me wise advice" (Psalm 119:24). Relationships, money, work, politics -- we all need wisdom for these. The Holy Spirit is your teacher, and the Bible is your curriculum. Together, the two will show you the right way. Jesus said, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). It's like going through a maze and having someone with a bird's eye view give you directions. He says, "Over there to the right... Love your enemy." And, "There, take a left -- give to God from your finances." As you lay your foundation from the Bible, your life will stand firm in hard times. Find out more about how to understand and apply the Bible in this section.

COMMUNITY

Jesus is in the family business. He loves to put people together. When He was dying on the cross -- in excruciating pain -- he said to His mom and His best friend, "'Dear woman, here is your son.' And He said to this disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from then on this disciple took her into his home" (John 19:26, 27). One of Jesus' top concerns, even as He was on the cross, was helping people find close community. And He’s still the same today. Jesus wants you to have deep relationships with other believers -- a spiritual family that supports one another. This spiritual family will help new believers grow, strengthen one another, and form an army of people who believe that Jesus is Lord and won’t back down. Jesus said, "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Do you want to be part of this overcoming Church? Jesus has a place carved out for you in His spiritual family. You just need to get plugged in.

Imagine a house all lit up with beautiful lights during the holidays. There needs to be lights all around the house for it to really shine from all directions. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world -- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house" (Matthew 5:14, 15). God has created you as a light bulb to give light in a unique way, but you must be plugged into the rest of the strand of lights to make the biggest impact. The strand is the local church, the Christians around you in your area. As you get connected to other Christians, you will grow in your faith and be a light to those around you. If you don’t know many Christians because you live in a persecuted country, you can still find spiritual community online. God is providing amazing ways for His children to connect to each other through the Internet. Learn more about how to find your place in the light strand of Jesus' Church in this section.

SHARE

Is it contagious? Normally people ask that question with concern in their voice, afraid to catch what is going around. Did you know that the gospel is contagious? But not in a bad way -- in a good way. Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone" (Mark 16:15). The gospel is meant to be spread, and you are the carrier. Think of a communicable disease -- the flu, chicken pox, a cold... How is it spread? By contact, by communication. It’s the same with the gospel. As you interact with people around you and tell them about Jesus, you show them the light of God and have the ability to impact their eternal destiny.

How you do make the gospel spread? Think about the difference between being in the presence of a negative, mean person versus a positive, kind one. Which one makes you feel better? Which one would you want to listen to? I Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." Your gentle spirit and peaceful way is going to make people want to listen to the explanation. What is the reason for your hope? The answer is Jesus Christ. He is the only reason we have love, hope, and a reason to live. What's more, this hope is contagious and they can catch it if you will communicate it. You just have to tell them about the simple good news of Jesus -- that, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). This is the contagious gospel. Learn how you can be a carrier here in this section. From : https://www.godlife.com