Memory Verse: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 ESV

Day 1
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 ESV

Yada - Yah-DAH v. Hebrew to perceive, to know intimately, to understand, to experience

The theme for the week is the nearness of God, the intimacy/immediacy/tangibility of our relationship with him. Knowing Him! S.I. Hayakawa, who wrote and taught about semantics, said, in essence, that when we mistake the word for the thing it represents or the map for the territory, we never grasp a full understanding of it. Also, doing so can lead to prejudicial thinking. A label is shorthand and shorthand can be extremely useful. However, it can also, at times, be limiting. To appreciate something fully, we need to explore it in “real time” so to speak. These next 8 weeks we’re going to do some “real time” with God.

• How would knowing God in the present give your life an eternal quality now?

• Consider the difference between studying a map of Colorado and driving through the mountains. How would you describe how you Yada God?

• To help drive this verse into your memory, each day recite the verse to yourself and hear Jesus speak it for you with your name in place of “they”.

• Identify the most meaningful word from God today.

• Reword that into a prayer.

• How will you actively respond?

Day 2
9 But as Scripture says:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
the things that God has prepared
for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 1 Corinthians 2:9 (GW)

Notice the track of this verse through the senses to the imagination to the unfathomable. We often treat religion in concrete ways, yet faith drives into the intangible. Consider the role of senses and imagination in your Yada relationship with God and how they could be assets and how they could be limitations.

• What challenge does this verse give you in your quest to know God?

• Identify the most meaningful word from God today.

• Reword that into a prayer.

• How will you actively respond?

Day 3
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

More than we might ask or think… Sounds like the sky’s the limit when it comes to what God is planning for you. This first week, consider where God may be taking you on this Yada journey. Admit your fears and hesitations and release yourself to God’s power.

• Choose a current situation and think about what God can do in that situation.

• Identify the most meaningful word from God today.

• Reword that into a prayer.

• How will you actively respond?

Day 4
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. God accepted our ancestors because of their faith. Hebrews 11:1–2 (GW)

Walking by faith doesn’t mean the next step is clear. Walking by faith is expecting God to make the journey His. That means faith has a huge trust component.

• How willingly do you enter into trust relationships? Have those relationships impacted your trusting Yada relationship with God?

• How does your life demonstrate faith in God?

• Identify the most meaningful word from God today.

• Reword that into a prayer.

• How will you actively respond?

Day 5
No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (GW)

Entering into a close relationship with God means going all in. Just ask Abraham or any of the other faith-filled people listed in chapter 11. Our all in

response

of faith, taking the leap of faith brings joy to God.

• What all in kind of thing have you done to please someone… your parents, your spouse, your kids, your boss?

• Does your faith inspire you to please God?

• Identify the most meaningful word from God today.

• Reword that into a prayer.

• How will you actively respond?