It’s easy to attend church, hear a great message, and walk away with a lot of information about God. But here’s the thing: just because you know about Him doesn’t mean you actually know Him.
Since moving to Hattiesburg, my family and I have had the opportunity to meet and support many of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team members this past spring. One name that will probably stand out to many of you is Ozzie Pratt; he’s the older brother of Quince Pratt over at Magnolia Heights.
We first met Ozzie when Magnolia Heights came down to Columbia to play in the state finals. From that day on, every time we saw him during the Southern Miss season, he would stop, say hey, and take the time to connect. The more we saw him, the more we got to know him.
That’s what I’m talking about here when it comes to knowing God.
John 17:3 NIV “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Knowing God isn’t just a phrase we use; it’s something we live. That’s our first and greatest calling.
To know Him and be known by Him. It’s a real, personal relationship.
This week’s article focuses on strengthening our relationship with God through Scripture, worship, and prayer. This is the week to go deeper. Not just to check off spiritual boxes, but to sit with God, listen to His voice, and let Him shape you from the inside out.
KNOWING GOD IS YOUR FIRST AND GREATEST CALLING
Eternal life starts with a relationship, not religion. It’s not just about believing in God; it’s about knowing Him personally and making Him the center of your life.
You were made to know God, not just hear about Him once a week at church. That kind of relationship grows through three powerful practices:
Scripture: God speaks through His Word. When you open your Bible, you open your heart to hear from Him. (Psalm 119:105 NIV)
Worship: Worship shifts your focus from yourself to who God is. (Psalm 95:6 NIV) Prayer: Prayer is your daily, personal conversation with God. (Colossians 4:2 NIV) Pick a specific time each day for quiet time with God.
Start small: 10 minutes of Scripture, worship music, and prayer. Find a quiet place without distractions, and let God speak.
YOU MAKE TIME FOR WHAT MATTERS
Life gets busy. Between school, sports, friends, and endless scrolling, our time fills up fast. But if something really matters to you, you’ll make time for it.
Your relationship with God is worth that time.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment, create one. Make space in your schedule for Him, just like you do for everything else that’s important.
Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier this week. Before checking your phone or doing anything else, spend those first few minutes reading the Bible and talking to God.
Try it for three days and write down anything God reveals to you.
THE CLOSER YOU WALK WITH GOD, THE CLEARER YOUR CALLING
You can’t recognize God’s voice if you never slow down to listen. God doesn’t always shout; He often whispers. And you can only hear a whisper when you’re close and paying attention.
The more time you spend with Him, the more clearly you’ll hear His voice and understand the purpose He’s placed on your life.
Read through Psalm 139 this week.
Journal the verses that stand out.
Ask yourself: What does this show me about God? What does this show me about me?
It’s not about how many times you’ve been to church or how many Bible verses you’ve memorized. Those things are good, but they’re not the goal. The goal is to know God and let Him know you.
Because the closer you are to Him, the more everything else in your life will start to make sense.
Josh House is a Baptist minister to youth and children. He is a longtime contributor to the Tate Record.
