LEARNING ABOUT GOD | Northstar Church

“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63:1.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to become consumed by worldly pursuits and distractions, leaving little room for spiritual growth and intimacy with our Creator. However, as followers of Christ, there is nothing more vital than cultivating a hunger and thirst for a deeper knowledge of God. This pursuit transforms our entire outlook on life, shaping our values, priorities, and relationships.

Scripture repeatedly urges us to seek after God with all our hearts and minds. In Jeremiah 29:13, we read, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” This verse reminds us that knowing God is not merely a passive experience but an active pursuit—a journey of seeking, discovering, and growing in intimacy with Him.

How well do you know God? For most Christians, we go through life with a sense that we know God. After all, we’ve read God’s Word, we’ve walked with Him, and we’ve had experiences with Him. But do we know God? What happens when the bottom falls out? What happens when everything you’ve known God to be in your life is turned upside down, and you are left dazed and pondering the very essence of your relationship with Him and who He is?

One of the most significant challenges we face today is a lack of understanding about who God is. You may know about God, but do you truly understand what He says about Himself—and what He wants from you?

It is essential to distinguish between knowledge about God and knowledge of God. Knowledge about God is strictly theoretical. We can learn all sorts of theological truths about God: His nature, His attributes, the Trinity, without truly knowing God. True knowledge of God goes beyond cataloguing facts to a personal relationship. Knowledge of God comes from walking through life with Him, thinking of Him, talking to Him, and worshipping Him. Knowledge of God goes beyond merely understanding the truth about Him; it applies that truth personally. Knowledge of God comes from listening to Him speak through His word, from learning what He loves and what He hates. As Christians, our desire should be to move from merely knowing about God to understanding God.

Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We need to thirst for knowledge about God and, from that knowledge, center our lives around Him.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever experienced a “dry spell” or season of difficulty in your relationship with God? How have you navigated that time?
How do you experience God’s presence in your life? Are there specific ways you find Him most clearly?