Do you KNOW Jesus superficially?

I'm a very reserved person by nature, and my friendships with others must be authentic and not shallow and empty!

I want to get to know you on a deeper level and not just the surface stuff. I've never really been into "small talk", like "how's the weather or what's your favorite food?" Now don't misunderstand me, those conversations have their place when you're just getting to know someone, but if we still only have talks like this after being friends for 3 years, then brother we got a problem! Our friendship is superficial, with no depth in our relationship! You call me when you want to go out to eat, or hang out, but what about when we need to have the more serious discussions? You change the subject to something else because you're uncomfortable. You don't really open up and just talk about silly stuff all the time. Everything to you is a BIG JOKE!

Now once again, I'm not saying you can't have fun and be goofy, but your relationship must be more than that to really be sustaining. Those are what you call your outer court friends. They are higher than just an acquaintance, but nowhere near "bestie" level. I know we probably all have people like that in our life! You know some things about their life, but not much.

Did you know that you can treat Jesus the same way? People always talking about how much they want to know Him, and hear His voice, and be close to Him, but you're not even willing to get to just talk to Him.....no strings attached! Some people look at me a little funny when I say I hear His voice, and know His plan for my life! I guess they think we're all supposed to be spiritual babies for the rest of our lives like them, and never actually LIVE this thing! Give. Me. A. Break!

You say "I'm a Christian, I go to church!" I serve at church and do everything! Friend, being a church member doesn't mean you know Him! Serving at church don't mean you know Him! There are so many people "serving" all right at church (sometimes for the approval of the Pastor with wrong motives), but they are just as dried up on the inside of them as a crusty old raisin!

You know the Lord by spending time with Him, ministering to the Lord in worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Not coming to God saying "hurry up God and bless me, I prayed for an hour, now whatchu gon' do for you me? YO hurry up and tell me Your plan for my life, I got other things to do today!" Huuhh, imma have to quit on this whole God thang! Why can't I hear Your voice Lord?"

You need to read and STUDY His word daily.....hourly, and not make church your "time with the Lord". "Lord, I don't have time to pray", but you got time to scroll on Facebook for 2 hours? When we come into the house of the Lord, we should actually be BRINGING something into the service, not just sitting a block of wood taking up space! The more read, pray and just talk to Him, the more real His is to you, and the deeper the relationship is. There is a "deeper place" in Him. But unless you are in that place some things won't work for you. Psalm 91 is a popular psalm we like to pull out when we get into trouble, yet there are qualifiers here....read carefully.....

1 He who DWELLS in the shelter of the Most High

WILL abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Let me ask you a question....are you dwelling or are just crashing for a bit? Let's look at this scripture in reverse

1 He who DOESN'T DWELL in the shelter of the Most High

WILL NOT abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

If it's true for the positive outcome, then it must be true for the negative outcome as well!

Verse 15-16 says

Because he has LOVED Me, THEREFORE I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has KNOWN My name.

15“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

16“With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

Let me ask you another question....do you love Him? Have you known His name? Well, I'll tell you one thing, you can't if you just worship once a week at church! And when trouble comes your way can you really claim this Psalm? Now God is merciful and can help you even if you haven't been so hot, and come through for you anyway, but if you want consistent answers to prayers, we need to follow the rules.