Do we share Paul’s passion to know the Lord? Should we?

The Apostle Paul’s passion to know the Lord, to live in a close, personal relationship with God, was the driving force of his life and service. The full meaning of the word “know” in the Greek helps us better understand the kind of relationship with the Lord that is essential for us…

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…. (Philippians 3:10a, AMP, italics added)….

Jesus uses the same Greek word, ginosko, in describing how He knows us and we’re to know Him—in describing how we must know Him:

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me….” (John 10:14, italics added)

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23, italics added)

How do we develop such a relationship?

Through spending daily time alone with God in prayer (Matthew 6:6, 9-13). As we spend time alone with God in prayer, He welcomes us into a personal relationship of growing spiritual intimacy, one in which we not only sense His presence and speak to Him as we move through our days, but also learn to hear His voice:

...the sheep follow [the shepherd], for they know his voice. (John 10:4-5, italics added)

Daily consistency is the important thing. Our prayer time does not have to be for a long period of time, but spending some time with God every day is not an option if we want to know God in a personal way. God will honor even a few minutes a day if we devote them to Him, reading His Word and praying as Jesus taught.

from e3 Ignite Your Prayer Life Prayer Journal, pp. 4-5