The person who loves God values knowledge of God more than anything created by God, and pursues such knowledge ardently and ceaselessly.
– Saint Maximos The Confessor
This is a powerful statement. Let me unpack it. I read it in The Philokalia (Volume Two).
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I enjoy God’s creation when instead I should seek knowledge of God. It’s not bad to enjoy God’s creation. I do think God wants me to drink my French press coffee. God encourages me to walk in nature with my family. God loves when I gaze at the ocean. I savor the time when my wife and I watch our favorite cable series.
However, I think I will enjoy God’s creation even more if I first seek and value knowledge of God more than I seek and enjoy the created things of God.
How do I seek knowledge of God?
I need to let God teach me. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to let God teach me.
I can read the Bible and let God’s Spirit speak to me. As I read a passage what does it tell me? Is there an action I need to take?
Another way I can let God teach me is verbal prayer. I can ask God one simple yet not so simple question. “Who are You?” I might sit and ask God this question. I might ask God this question while I take a walk. Then I wait. I let God reveal the answer to me.
I can also ask God this same question and watch. I can see what happens around me. What does God want to show me? What does God wish to teach me?
Lastly, I can let God teach me during my silent prayer practice. My silent prayer practice is centering prayer.
During silent prayer I open to God. I consent to the action and presence of God within. I let God act within me. Silent prayer is wordless prayer. I do not pray. I let God pray in me. I let God teach me.
We can obtain knowledge of God if we let God teach us. If we seek God, God will show us who He is. I think it is vital to take time each day and let God teach us. I shared three examples.
I encourage you to seek daily practices when you can let God teach you who He is. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As God reveals and shares a glimmer of who He is, you will begin to more and more marvel at and enjoy His creation that surrounds you.
