As We understand God

What is your understanding of God? If we are completely honest with ourselves we will admit that our understanding is limited. It doesn’t matter if we have turned to HIm today or 50 years ago, our understanding is limited. We all start from the same place when it comes to understanding God. But, as time passes our understanding increases. I am of the opinion that this is the message the original AA members intended to get across. It isn’t telling us that nature or anything else can be our god. Whatever concept we have of God is where we begin and once we have turned our will and our lives over to Him, He begins to reveal Himself to us and our understanding deepens. This shouldn’t be offensive to those who follow Jesus. “As we understood Him” is an invitation to learn more about God.

The Psalmist wrote, “May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word.” (Psalm 119:169). The Psalmist understood that his knowledge of God was limited and he cried out to God for more understanding. Proverb 3:5 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” We don’t need to understand God in order to trust Him. It’s through our trust in Him that we slowly gain understanding. So we turn to God with our limited understanding. Psalm 3:6 continues “In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” As we submit to God as we understand Him, He makes Himself known to us as He guides us along our journey, Full knowledge of God is impossible, so we commit to Him as we understand Him. 

Step 3 is a step of faith. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Our hope is to stop the insanity of our addiction. We hope God, as we understand Him, could restore us. By turning our will and our lives over to the care of God, we are displaying a certainty in what we do not see. It starts with faith. So, don’t get all caught up in the “understood” in step three. Come to God as you are, with all your doubts. The key is to accept God and turn everything over to Him, as we understand Him.