Getting to know You

03/12/2007

Getting to know You
Getting to know all about You
Getting to like You
Getting to hope You like me

That’s an old song from “The King and I,” but some of you may know it. I only knew the first two lines, so while sitting here with my mother-in-law, I asked her, and she had the 3rd and 4th lines for me. (The rest I looked up on the Internet.)

As I awoke this morning, this song was running through my mind, and I started to sing it. I wondered why? It’s not like it’s one of my favorite tunes, and when I realized where it came from, I knew it’s not because it’s one of my favorite musicals! If I had woken up singing, “…these are a few of my favorite things,” from “The Sound of Music,” it would have made more sense. I have seen that movie more times than I could count. But, God knew what He was doing, and He was having fun with me! I didn’t get “it,” until the end of the day! “It” being just exactly how awesome God is, and how much fun He brings into putting the pieces together in our lives!

As we drove out of Fresno later that evening, I was talking with Jim about what I had written that morning. (This message) He got out to pump the gas and that’s when God showed me something I hadn’t yet seen…this song not only spoke about getting to know someone, it also came from the stage play, “The King and I.” And as Jim said, when I told him, “Pun intended.” We both just laughed!

Getting to know God was on my mind, because a new friend had asked me just the other day, “How do we get to know God?” My answer for her on that day was, “If we met here for coffee, every day, for the next five years…in five years, we would really know one another. It’s the same with God. If we meet with Him every day, we will get to know Him.”

We want to complicate this in our walk with Him, but it really is that simple. In the quick-fix society we live in, with the quick meals, the quick drive-thrus, the quick relationships that come and go in our lives, we can have a hard time trying to figure out how a relationship with our Father in Heaven works. It’s pretty much the same as any relationship we have on this earth, it takes time, commitment, willingness, and being able to share as well as listen to one another.

A.W. Tozer writes: “In my creature impatience I am often caused to wish that there were some way to bring modern Christians into a deeper spiritual life painlessly by short easy lessons; but such wishes are vain. No shortcut exists. God has not bowed to our nervous haste nor embraced the methods of our machine age. It is well that we accept the hard truth now: The man who would know God must give time to him. He must count no time wasted which is spent in the cultivation of his acquaintance.”

A time with our Father might go something like this: (Originally, I had written God and Us, but now that I see what God was doing, I’ll use the King and I for this!)

I: Hey God! Can I talk with you a bit?
King: Yeah, of course you can. Anytime!
I: Ahh, okay, where do I start…I guess, there’s just lots going on…
King: Tell Me about it.
I: Well, I’m struggling because I feel so lonely so much of the time. From the outside, I look busy and happy, but inside, I seem to have this hole of emptiness that I’m not sure what to do with.
King: I’m always here for you. Do you know that?
I: Most times You just seem so far away from the reality I live in…
King: But I’m not, those are just lies you know. The enemy is out to steal our friendship.
I: Yeah, and I could really use a friend in those times of loneliness.
King: You can always pray.
I: Yeah, but I’m not sure what I’m praying to?
King: To Me.
I: How does that work? I can’t see You. I have a hard time hearing You.
King: I’m not as hard to get a hold of as you might think. You know how when you give a friend a call and set up a time to be together…
I: Yeah…
King: Well, that’s how we got together today, to even discuss this.
I: Hummmm…
King: It’s simply a matter of taking the time, being committed to our relationship, and as we spend that time together you’ll come to know Me more. You’ll discover that even in those times of intense loneliness, I’m always with You. You’ll begin to rest in the fact that even though you can’t see Me, I live in you and work through you and strengthen you for all things. You’ll come to know My Voice, and it won’t seem so out of reach.
I: Well, if it’s that easy, why does it seem so hard?
King: Let Me break this down very simply for you…I am ready, willing and able to meet with you wherever you are. The minute you turn in My direction, I’m there. Even when you’re turned away, I’m there, you’re just not quite as aware of it. Every time, and I mean every time, you choose to spend time with Me, you will gain a greater awareness of Who I am and how I work in your life. If the times between our meetings grows long, I can seem distant--but when our meetings are frequent, over time, you will know Me so well that even when you go about your day, you’ll know I’m with you. You’ll start to live each moment in My presence, knowing I’m just a thought away…and really, not even that far.
I: So, it’s a matter of choice for me? It’s something that in showing some effort in our friendship, I’ll see amazing results?
King: That’s right.
I: I can choose to know You, and in that choice, I will never be disappointed. It is a sure deal that in spending time with You, little by little, our relationship will grow? Why have I missed that? Why have I not been willing to commit myself to this relationship with You?
King: You need to realize, there is an enemy that lurks, and he is very distracting. He will do anything to keep you from spending time with Me. He will lie to you and tell you this will never work. He will frustrate your efforts, put walls up around you, fill your days with endless tasks, even call you to do good things, that can be of some help, but those might be the very things that burn up in the fire because I never asked you to do those things. They were never authorized by Me.
I: I feel torn in so many different directions each day, how do I get past that?
King: I’m not here to complicate your life. You need to know that! I’m not here to lay heavy burdens on you, to ask you to do things that cause stress and confusion. I’m here to simplify your life…I created you to have a friendship with Me. All the rest…I can take care of. If there’s anything else I want you to do, I’ll let You know.
I: But, what about feeding the poor, taking care of the widows, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ? Don’t You ask us to do all that?
King: You’ve been reading my Word again, haven’t you? Good for you! Yes, that’s all in there! For sure! But never put those things above loving Me with all your heart, your soul, and your strength! What you need to realize is, when you get to know Me, you won’t miss what I’m asking you to do in this life. That’s a given. If you don’t know Me as you should, you’re going to run yourself ragged because of the expectations you have for yourself, or because of the expectations that others have for you. Those aren’t My expectations.
I: That seems to make sense to me now.
King: I didn’t create you to be miserable. I created you to have life, and to live it to the full. You can’t do that if you’re not full of Me, My thoughts, My love, My compassion and My strength. If you’re not attached to Me, you’ll have nothing to work with and you’ll get exhausted. My strength is limitless. I want you to use it! I have an endless supply of energy and ideas for you. Plug into Me, and you won’t be bored, believe Me.
I: You know God, I feel like I’m getting to know You just from this time we have had together. Can we spend time together later today, or tomorrow?
King: I’m always here for you. Next time, let’s share about our families!
I: You have a family?
King: Oh…this is going to be fun! I have so much to reveal to you! Don’t be away too long!

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

I: God?
King: Oh, Hi there! That didn’t take long!
I: Well, You sort of peeked my interest when You said You had a family. I was wondering if we could talk about that?
King: Oh, that would be great. You know, I already know all about your family, but why don’t we start there anyway. I’d love to hear you tell Me about them.
I: Well, where do I start? I’m married, we have children…in fact, God, one of our kids lives with You.
King: Yes, your youngest son! I can see him right now…he’s in the colorful field across from the stream. He’s walking with My Son.
I: Really? You have a Son?
King: Yes, His name is Jesus. You may have heard about Him from His days on earth. I had to send Him to all of you for a while. It was the only way I could bring you all back to Me and offer you the forgiveness I so wanted to give you. He died you know…?
I: I heard that Jesus died, but I wasn’t really sure that He was your Son. Some say He was just a great prophet, or a good person…
King: Does that even make sense to you? If He was a good person, would He have lied about being My Son, because that’s what He would have had to do to say those things He said about Himself while He was there. They were either the truth, or He was a crazy man!
I: Well, You’re right about that. So tell me about Your Son.
King: I love Him so very much, and as hard as it was for Me to watch Him suffer--He and I knew it would be worth it when it was all finished. My Son, Jesus, made the way for your son to be here today in Heaven--when Jesus died and then rose again on the third day, He conquered sin and death.
I: Thank you for that!! I know my son believed in Jesus, and to think that they are now together helps my heart.
King: They are the best of friends here in Heaven. I see them laughing and talking together lots of the time.
I: What are they talking about?
King: Well, the ways of Heaven are so different, that would be hard to put into human terms, but as we get to know one another better, I’ll reveal some things to you that have no human logic or reasoning, but you will be able to embrace them because you have learned to trust Me with all things.
I: Sounds great! I’ve got to go now, but I can’t wait until our next time together…
King: See, this whole relationship thing isn’t so hard, is it?
I: I’m learning…thanks!

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.

King: Hey there, have you got some time to spend with Me?
I: Ummm…well, I was going to do a few things…I’m kind of rushed today…but you know what God? I’m going to stop a minute because I heard You call me. I’m sure that this time spent with You will be so much more worthwhile than getting everything checked off my “to do” list today. You’re teaching me that.
King: Thanks for making Me a priority in your day.
I: It’s not easy, God, but day by day, You’re making all things beautiful and new.
King: That’s what I love to do in your life!
I: So, what’s up today God. Why have You called on me today?
King: I wanted to tell you a bit more about My family, because there is a third member that you should know about.
I: Another child?
King: No, not exactly that. More like a Counselor, He has even been called a Comforter.
I: Really?
King: Yes, because when you realized Who Jesus was and invited Him into your life, He left you with a special gift.
I: That’s sounds good! What is it?
King: Some call Him an “It,” but He’s really a “He.” He is the Holy Spirit that lives inside of you now that you believe in the truth of my Son.
I: He lives inside of me? How does that work?
King: I sent my Son to earth, so that you would be able to see a visible version of the invisible God, Me. Jesus lived for 33 years, three of which He performed many miracles and told everyone about the Good News of eternal life that is found through Him. Then came the time that I called Him back Home, but I never meant to leave you alone in that. When Jesus arrived back in Heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to guide you and strengthen you in life.
I: How does it…I mean, He do that?
King: The more you get to know Me by spending time with Me, the more you will be able to abandon Your life to Me, so the Holy Spirit will be able to grow inside of you, filling so much of the emptiness this life can bring. As you embrace My truths, found in the Holy Bible, which is My inspired Word, I will bring you through all the doubts and the questions to a place where your faith will grow beyond what you could have ever imagined.
I: And you’re saying all it takes is getting to know You, to make time for conversations like the one we are having today?
King: Yes, it will all come out of that. Never fear that that you will miss anything I have for you in this life as long as you spend time with Me. Don’t let anything get in the way of our time together.
I: Wow, I never knew how important these times were.
King: They are very important! I hope you’ll always remember that.
I: If I don’t, will You come and remind me?
King: Sometimes, that sort of reminder can hurt…will you trust Me through those times?
I: I will try, really I will.

Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

“The spiritual giants of old were men who at some time became acutely conscious of the real Presence of God and maintained that consciousness for the rest of their lives…How otherwise can the saints and prophets be explained? How otherwise can we account for the amazing power for good they have exercised over countless generations? Is it not that they walked in conscious communion with the real Presence and addressed their prayers to God with the artless conviction that they were addressing Someone actually there?”
A.W. Tozer (The Divine Conquest)

This conversation between “The King and I” has been great fun, but I hope it also helps all of us to get past the things that keep us from talking with our Lord each day. We don’t have to use fancy language; we don’t have to know anything exceptional besides knowing Him as our Savior. When we do, we can communicate with Him, spirit to Spirit, day by day. We’ll get to know what to say, and it will be free and easy, just like sitting with one of our best friends and talking over the things of life.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:11 (NLT)

Getting to know You
Getting to know all about You
Getting to like You
Getting to hope You like me

When we get to truly know God, we can’t help but like Him. We will fall deeply in love with Him, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Romans 8:38 (NLT)

Have fun!

Diane