All my life I’ve tried to picture God. Is He way high up in the sky? Or floating around us like an invisible vapor, or still hanging on a cross? Some may say He’s a tree, or butterfly, or star.
Why is it so hard for us to envision God? And how do we make Him feel closer and more real as we approach Him in worship and prayer?
As humans, many of us struggle with these concepts. God loves that we desire to draw near to Him in faith, especially with our honest questions.
Throughout history, countless artists have attempted to portray images of deity. How would it even be possible to reduce a Spirit Being of infinite dimensions to a canvas or statue? The truth about God is not contrived by our sin-stained human minds, nor dependent on fluctuating feelings. And any attempts we make to depict Him visually are distracting, inaccurate, and fail miserably at portraying an infinite Holy Almighty GOD.
An accurate concept of God has to be based on the truth of His Word – all that He has revealed to us in the Bible.
Another reason why we struggle to see and feel the LORD is that the limitations of our five senses and our three dimensional earthbound bodies aren’t capable of seeing God, or even picturing Him in all His glory.
We can’t reduce an Infinite God, Almighty God to something our senses can detect/perceive.
How would you describe a glorious sunset, or a star studded night sky to someone born blind?
I love this description: “He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever!” (1 Timothy 6:16)
In spite of the immensity of God and His glory contrasted to our glaring limitations, the GOOD NEWS is that He has made a way for us to know Him, and to catch a partial glimpse of Him. There are 3 things that have been very helpful to me in my faith-walk with the Lord.
- God Reveals WHO He is through His Creation and through His Son
Through CREATION:
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.” (Romans 1:20)
Every time we see a glorious glowing sunset, or a dazzling rainbow, or savor the fragrance of a flower or pleasure of good food, or waken to early morning songbirds, or hold a newborn baby…give Him glory! In that beautiful moment, our hearts draw close to Him as we praise our loving amazing Creator!
Through his Son, JESUS CHRIST:
“No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” (John 1:18)
“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.” (Hebrews 1:3)
The best way to know God is to know Jesus.
- God Provides Two Ways to Personally Interact with Him:
Worship/ Thanksgiving, and Requests/Needs
Throughout scripture, we see that God desires our heartfelt worship and our outpouring of our needs. This is a prayer Jesus taught us. We always start with worship–acknowledging WHO He is and His holiness, and then asking for what we need.
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation but rescue us from the evil one.”
(Matthew 6:5-13).
- Our WORSHIP
God is spirit. When we reach out to Him from the depths of our heart it is an honest and spiritual interaction. (John Chapter 4)
God’s holiness is the focal point of worship (both from us and from the angelic beings).
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
- Our NEEDS
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest, we can come to Him anytime. One thing that can help when we pray is to focus on His attributes/names one at a time:
When I need care and rest: He is my Good Shepherd (John 10)
When I need guidance: He is my Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
When I need a loving Father: He is Abba Father – a very intimate relationship (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6)
When I need comfort: He is the God of Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
When I need calming: He is my Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
When I need hope: He is my Risen Savior (Revelation 1:17-18)
- God HAS Blessed Us with Some Visible Revelations of Himself
More good news! Here are some of my favorite passages.
When Jesus revealed Himself to John years after His death and resurrection (see Revelation 1:13-18)
Heaven’s Throne (See Revelation Chapters 4-5)
All are worshipping Holy God and the LAMB who was slaughtered (Jesus)
“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!”
It’s About WHO God Is and His Relationship with Us
We WILL see Him face to face, Scripture assures believers. But until then, it’s good to remember that if we’re preoccupied with how to envision Him, or what to feel, we miss HIM!
God has a unique and special relationship with each of us, and everyone’s journey with Him is different. We walk by faith. The more we seek Him from the heart, and draw near to Him, and hear His Word, the more He will reveal special glimpses of His glory to us in ways we would never imagine…or be able to explain to others.
Truly grateful for a faithful God Who wants us to commune with Him. Forever.
”Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” ~Jesus
💜
