Growing in Our Knowledge of God as an Act of Worship - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 17

Growing in Our Knowledge of God as an Act of Worship
By: Deidre Braley

Bible Reading:
The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it. - Proverbs 18:15

“Mom, it rained last night,” my four-year-old said from the backseat during our morning commute. 

“Oh, I actually think that’s just dew.” I went on to share my limited understanding around why grass is sometimes wet when we wake up. 

She thought about it for a minute, then said, “No. The grass is wet, so it rained.” 

“Honey, don’t you want to be someone who is willing to learn new things rather than insisting on staying stuck on an old idea?” 

It was in that very moment that I felt the Holy Spirit say to my heart, “Yes, indeed.” 

Many of us have deep-seated beliefs about God that are founded in our personal experiences, our relationship with the Church, and our cultural worldview. And because these beliefs are so closely tied with our identity and the way we make sense of being human, the prospect of learning something new or different can be truly terrifying. 

Perhaps this is why there’s a certain skepticism around open-mindedness in the Church; believers want to be hypervigilant against anything that threatens to weaken their faith, and therefore erode their security that’s been carefully built on the way they understand the world. I know I felt like this when I became a seminary student last year—I had questions whose answers I feared, because I knew where all the shaky pockets of my faith were, and I worried that they’d collapse if I prodded them. 

But do you want to know who isn’t afraid of our questions? God. And if we have any lingering concerns that we “aren’t good Christians if we question God,” let us meditate on Hebrews 4:15-16, which says: 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

My friend Lindsay May, founder of The Truly Co. and fellow seminarian, once told me that she thinks of our commitment to learning more about God as a form of worship. Isn’t that brilliant—that our questions can be worship? Proverbs 18:15 teaches that the wise and discerning seek to acquire knowledge. Why? Because as we honor God by learning more about him, it might change how we understand him (and in turn, the world!), but it is a path that will lead us closer and closer to the Way, the Truth, and the Life himself. And that, my friends, is a worthy goal.

Intersecting Faith & Life 

So, how can we expand our knowledge of God—that is, Truth himself? 

Here are a couple of places to start: 

1. Read the Word—and Mix It Up. 

First, pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes while you read. What does he want you to understand today? How does he want to grow or challenge your current perspective? 

Then, be willing to experience the Bible differently than you usually do. Do you usually read it on your phone? Try holding a physical Bible and highlighting what the Holy Spirit is bringing to your attention. Do you mostly read it alone? Try discussing it with a friend, spouse, or small group. Are you used to reading it in your head? Listen to an audio version of the passage, or read it aloud. You might be surprised how much this changes your experience with Scripture! 

2. Check out The Bible Project. 

This website provides amazing videos and other resources to help people engage with—and better understand—books of the Bible in their entirety and in their unique historical and cultural contexts. 

3. Try a Lunchtime Seminary Course at Pillar Seminary. 

I don’t get any kickback for this—promise! But I am a student at Pillar Seminary, and because my faith is being continuously transformed by my experience there, I can highly recommend it to others. Each semester, Pillar offers a Lunchtime Seminary course, which is seminary-level training—completely free. 

Further Reading:
For further learning (and to put some of these suggestions into practice!), consider reading through Proverbs this week with a pen or highlighter in your hand. Whenever you find a pertinent teaching on knowledge, wisdom, or understanding, meditate on it and mark it accordingly.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/RyanJLane 

Deidre Braley is a wife and mother to three children. She is the author and host behind The Second Cup, a collection of essays, poems, and podcast episodes where holiness and humanity collide. She recently published her debut poetry collection, The Shape I Take. Deidre is an editor with The Truly Co, and a contributor for The Way Back to Ourselves and Aletheia Today, among others. Her ideal day is spent eating chocolate croissants and having long chats about writing, dreams, and theology. Connect with Deidre on Instagram @deidrebraley.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community

Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!