Part 2: Keep Growing in Your Knowing

In my last blog post, I explained that Knowing is a Scriptural theme and pointed out how it often overlaps with the concept of spiritual maturity in the Apostle Paul’s writing. Furthermore, I shared passages of Scripture that reveal the way Paul aligns spiritual growth with an ever-increasing knowledge of God and His truth (Romans 12, Philippians 2-3, Colossians 3, and Ephesians 3). My post concluded:

If we who “know God” want to mature in our relationship with God,
we will need to increase in our knowledge of God.

In other words, the spiritually healthy life is one where a believer keeps growing in his or her knowing.

The Pitfalls

But there are a couple potential pitfalls…

Information Acquisition
Christian maturity isn’t just acquisition of Biblical data. Spiritual know-how spans beyond the mere gleaning of information to umbrella its proper application. But instead of discouraging us from pursuing information, this reality ought to propel us to expand our knowledge even more. After all, increased informational awareness leads to increased opportunity for response.

Relational Passivity
Have you ever heard someone say this?

“It’s not really about knowing about God; it’s about having a relationship with God.”

While well-intended, statements like this are confusing and create a space for relational passivity. After all, we don’t have a relationship with anyone we know nothing about and we don’t grow in a relationship with someone we don’t strive to know more about.

If I ignore my husband of eleven years when he tells me about his day and I fail to note the things that brought him joy or sadness, my inattention creates room for stagnation. It’s endeavoring to know more about my husband that fuels our relationship in these moments. When it comes to the believer’s relationship with God, knowing about is essential to a relationship with.

The Process

What are some steps you can take to keep growing in your knowing?

Ask God to help you understand Him and His Word.
“God, empower me with all Your resources and strengthen me through Your Spirit. I want to understand more about You.”
Read the Bible.
Devotionals and Bible Study curriculums can be helpful resources to understanding God’s Word, but they ought not replace the Bible itself. I’d encourage you to prioritize Bible-reading and view the others as extra literature.
Think about what you’ve read.
Think but don’t overthink the way you think. While you may benefit from an elaborate system of regular journaling, color-coded 3×5 cards, or __________ to help you process, keep in mind your goal is to know God not develop an elaborate system. Just think on your drive to work, while you cook dinner, or as you take your morning walk…whatever works best for you.
Talk to God about what you understood.
“God, this is what I understood from Scripture today. Help me remember what You’re teaching me and prompt me to apply it to my life.”
Discuss what you’re learning with others.
Sharing what you’re learning about God with the people around you not only opens up doors, it provides accountability and welcomes Godly counsel.