Can I Know God Personally? (5 Ways to Encounter & Grow Closer to God)

Do you wonder what God is like? Do you ask yourself if He cares about you? What if I told you He does and that He wants you to know Him personally?

As a child, I believed in and had positive feelings toward God, but I wouldn't say that I was relationally connected to Him. Later, as a teenager, I considered myself an atheist. My worldview was shaped by deep disappointment and pain. I surmised that even if I was wrong on that point, God either wasn't relatable or philanthropically invested in the lives of people.

Without God, life is only what we see. As I matured and realized I have less control over my circumstances than I thought, failures to acquire what I wanted and to feel happier with life revealed a bleak picture for my future.

Then, everything changed in a moment of time when I looked up and said, "God, if you are real, you're gonna have to show me because, if you're not, there's nothing for me to live for." And just like that, Jesus impressed upon the deepest parts of my heart that He is God and that He wants to be my friend. He became the closest friend I ever had. I told Him about everything and would fall asleep each night talking with Him.

I never knew a love like this, a deep, all-encompassing love found in noone else but Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross so we can be reconciled to and have an intimate relationship with God.

If you would like to know God personally and experience the kind of love that results in profound fulfillment and hope for the future, this article will help. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, you can deepen your relationship by getting to know His character and transparently interacting with Him.

These five actions can help you experience firsthand the personal nature of God and the depth of His love for you. As you read through them, pray for discernment on which would be most beneficial at this stage of your faith journey.

1. Ask God to Reveal Himself to You

If done with an honest heart that is looking for truth, asking God to reaveal Himself is a wonderful thing. Whether you're undecided if He is real or you are struggling in seeing Him as good, God will speak to your inner being, giving you the assurance you need to move forward.

It is important to understand that once the Lord reveals Himself, you are responsible for your response - whether it is rejection (Mk. 5:1-20), ignoring (Heb. 3:15), or accepting (Mk. 8:27-30).

Boldly ask God to make Himself known by praying in your own words or by using this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to reveal yourself to me. If you are real and you care about me, I want to know you personally. I want to give you the worship you are due. I want you to guide me in your good and holy ways, and I want to live for you. Speak to the deepest parts of my soul, wash away all of my wrongdoings, and give me confidence that I am guaranteed to be with you in heaven when my time on earth is done. Show me that I am fully known and fully loved by you, God.”

2. When you Pray, Engage in Focused Listening

God wants you to hear His voice - not just in making big decisions or dealing with tragedies, but in every aspect of your life. He created you, knows everything about you, and loves you more than you can imagine. Conversation with Him is personal; what He wants to say is specific to you.

The key is to actively listen. If you cannot hear, it could be that you are distracted. Try stepping away from things demanding your attention. Tell God what is preoccupying you. The act of doing this will unload your mind and open you up to receive from your loving Heavenly Father. Say to the Lord, "I'm here to listen. What do you want to say, show, or impress upon me? And then attune yourself to the voice of God, keeping in mind that it is often like a whisper. (1 Ki. 19:11-13), and that He will never tell you something that contradicts Scripture.

3. Confess Your Sins & Be Reconciled to God

We can know God personally because Jesus Christ took on the penalty for our sins so we can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and spend eternity with Him (Jn. 3:16). Everyone has sinned and everyone needs forgiveness. By confessing your sins to God, you can be set free to develop a close, personal relationship with Him (2 Cor. 5:11-21).

Sometimes when Christians are unable to hear or feel closely connected to God, it is because there is a sinful action or attitude that needs to be confessed. By turning back to God through obeying His commands, intimacy can grow. If you think this may be happening in your life, follow the model in Ps. 139, by asking God to show you if there is something you need to confess. You can have confidence that He will forgive you (Ps. 32:1-5).

4. Read the Bible

The Bible is the Word of God. By reading it, His character will be revealed to you. The Scriptures are living and active, which means God will speak personally to you as you read it (Heb. 4:12). His Word does not return void; it always impacts something - even when not apparent (Is. 55:11). The Word of God pierces bone and marrow, revealing to you things about yourself and guiding you to walk closely with the Lord.

My suggestion is to begin by reading the New Testament Book's of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, which all give an account of Jesus. It will pave the way for you to know God personally because, as Jesus said, if you know Him, you know the Father (Jn. 14:9). It's okay if you don't understand everything...even devoted followers of Christ run into Scriptures that are unclear to them. When you come across something you don't understand, talk to God and ask Him if there's anything He wants to show you. It is also a good idea to talk with a mature Christian who studies Scripture; in this way, you can receive clarification and/or recommendations on Bible commentary books or websites to check out.

5. Learn from Others

Sermons play one of the biggest roles in teaching people how to know and follow God. If you do not attend church services, I encourage to do so. In cases where in-person attendance is not feasible, sermons can be watched online. If you are in our area, we heartily invite you to join us; or, if this is not workable, participate in our livestream and connect via chat as you watch the service.

Other ways you can learn from others include, attending Bible studies or discussion groups, and spending time observing and getting to know mature Christ-followers.

While we are intended to learn from one another, it is important to also be in the Bible yourself. At times, you may hear something that is unscriptural; by reading Scripture, you will be protected from being led astray.

Next Steps

Because God is not physically visible to the eye, it makes sense to wonder if He can be known on a personal level. I assure you...you absolutely can know Him! God wants you to experience His presence all around and through you just as you feel the wind.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - Jn. 3:8

Reach out to us if you would like help connecting personally with your Creator who loves you more than you can imagine.

Do you want to go a step further in growing closer to God? Try:

Taking a day of rest - "Be still and know that I am God..." (Ps. 46:10)
Meditating on Scripture - "Your steadfast love is better than life...I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night." (Ps. 63)
Fasting and praying - "I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, 'O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray." (Neh. 1)
Serving people in need - "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Mt. 25:31-46)
Tithing - " I the Lord do not change...Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Mal. 3:6-12)

Do you want to learn more about connecting personally with God and His people?

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Are you looking for a church in the Concord, NH area? We invite you to check us out. Grace Capital Church is located at 542 Pembroke Street in Pembroke, NH.