To Know, Love, & Trust You Need to SEEK & Grow
If you and I want to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST God, we need to SEEK Him and grow in faith.
2,000 years after Jesus walked the earth, people still hold varying ideas about His true identity.
Some, like me and many of you, believe that He was and is who He claimed to be. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is our Savior, who paid the price for our sins, and through faith in Him, we have the blessing of a restored relationship with God.
Some believe Jesus was merely a well-known rabbi, while others consider Him a mythological character. In John’s day, some false teachers accused Him of being an “egomaniac” and others of being a “misguided fool.”
John wanted everyone to know the truth about the Jesus he knew and loved. So he wrote a letter…
I am writing to you who are God’s children
1 John 2:12–14
because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
because you have won your battle with the evil one.
I have written to you who are God’s children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.
Wherever you and I fall on this timeline of faith, whether we’ve believed for days or decades, we need to keep growing in faith—in the knowledge and love for our Savior, Jesus.
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe that Jesus is God’s Son and my Savior. But 20 years ago, the Spirit worked in me through life’s circumstances, giving me a need to KNOW Him personally. So, I started SEEKing Him daily through prayer and the pages of Scripture.
And the more I learned about God’s love for me, the more I fell in love with Him.
As I consider the past two decades, I realize how intentional God’s timing was and is. He knew how much I would need Him to hold and help me.
He knew in advance that there would be rejection, betrayal, life-threatening, and life-ending illnesses. He knew about moves, saying good-bye to old friends and getting to know new ones. He knew about viruses and lockdowns. He knew that and every other big and small detail of my life and yours.
I used to read page after page of Christian self-help books. I worked overtime trying to fix every little problem that came along. But by God’s grace, the more I SEEK Him alone through His Word and prayer, the more I’m able to surrender everything to Him.
I’ve learned to TRUST Jesus as I’ve continued to learn more about Him and His love. Like John, I’ve found that the more I KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Him, the more I want everyone else to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Him, too.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to SEEK and Grow
to Know, Love, and Trust
Heavenly Father, I thank and praise You for allowing me to know You. You opened my heart through Your Spirit and placed wise and faithful people in my life who knew, loved, and trusted Jesus.
From my childhood, I learned the importance of trusting and obeying You. I wanted to live according to Your will, and foolishly trusted my ability to do so. Thank You for revealing the truth in Your perfect timing. Thank You for humbling me and helping me understand my need for Your faithful counsel and direction.
I would not have endured without Your support and strength. You graciously taught me to SEEK a closer relationship with You through Your Word and prayer. You directed me through Your LOVE and showed me that You alone are worthy of all my TRUST.
By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, I will SEEK to KNOW You more every day. Because the more I KNOW You, the more I will LOVE You, my Savior and the Lord of my life.
Thank you for inspiring John to make it clear that he was writing Your message of love for every age and every stage of faith. We need You, Lord. And I pray that You will be known and loved throughout the world today, tomorrow, and always. Amen.
Quotes and Verses to Bless and Encourage You…
“By inviting God into our difficulties, we ground life—even its sad moments—in joy and hope. When we stop grasping our lives, we can finally be given more than we could ever grab for ourselves. And we learn the way to a deeper love for others.” — Henri Nouwen
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18
“My deepest awareness of myself is that Jesus Christ deeply loves me and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.” – Brennan Manning
Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6–7
May the Lord be with you and give you everything you need to SEEK and grow in faith. May we KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
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Thank you Deb, this is the exact message I needed to hear. 20 years ago, the Almighty Father reached out after me and touched my heart and soul in such a deep way that I never knew before or since. But through the years, I allowed life to get between the Father and me. So gradually, undetected, I started to drift away from Him and the chasm began to grow wider with each passing day. But of late, I keep “hearing”, feeling that prodding that says – Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
He never ceased to guard my life, or to fill my needs. He even answered many of my heartfelt cries to Him. But that intimate relationship we once had is still missing, and remained unrestored. And that’s what I need more than anything. I need His closeness again, need to know without the shadow of a doubt that whatever life’s circumstances are, He’s there with me in them. To feel His presence once again as I used to, that allowed me to sleep with a smile on my face during one of the most trying period of my life, because He waa there with me. Yes, I need Him more than anything.
Thank you for this beautiful testimony to God’s gracious love, Gaby. Thank you for joining us here and encouraging us with your love for our Lord Jesus. God be with you and bless you!
Thank you so much, Deb. Every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays I look forward to my emails. It seems, and I know it is God, your message touched me more deeply.
The older I get I want to know and serve my God. Thank you so much.
You are so kind, Donna. Thank you! I love doing this and hear from a friend who is blessed makes my day! God be with you and bless you!
Deb,
This really touched my heart! Your testimony touched me to the core. So many similar situations we know. I read this morning in a devotional about how our heartaches and trials bring us to the closer relationship with the Lord, and it is so very true. I am 80 years old and still growing closer to the Lord. I have always believed and never doubted that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and the son of God. He is and always has been since the beginning.
I appreciate your post so much, every day, and this one really, really touched me and brought tears to my heart and eyes. God bless you, my dear sweet friend. And many thanks for all of your encouragement as well. Good and Faithful Friends are a gift from God.
I pray that you have a wonderful week and stay safe.
Hugs,
Sue
Thank you, Sue! I want growing closer to the Lord to be part of every day for all of my life. I pay to keep my all focused on His gracious love and all He wants for us. I am always blessed by your comments. Have a beautiful week, dear friend!
Holy Spirit, thank You for Your présence in my Life, to help me see, hear, feel, taste our Father’s love for me. 20 years ago, I didn’t think I was a child of God anymore because of my sims and the punishment I deserved for these. Boy was I wrong lol. Thank God for sending Jesus…now I understand a little bit better and want to continue down this path that has light, help and révélations. I love You Lord!
What a beautiful word to encourage us all, JoAnne! Thank you! The Lord is so very gracious and good! His love has overcome everything that tries to tear us down. God bless you, my friend!
May we all grow in knowledge and love of God each and every day. Thank you, Deb, for stressing the importance of our relationship with Jesus always. Blessings!
Thank you, Martha! I am always blessed by your comments! Have a wonderful week! Blessings and hugs!
I want the Lord to help strengthen my faith and walk with him
What a beautiful professing of your desire, Sita. We will be lifting you up in prayer and asking the Lord to guide you and strengthen you with His Spirit. God be with you and bless you!