Acknowledging God requires awareness and relationship. We can have a relationship with someone but if we are not aware of their presence, we don’t acknowledge them. On the other hand, we can be aware of someone’s presence, but if we do not know them, we may not acknowledge them either.
In our daily relationships, how do we acknowledge others? Usually we use our senses to become aware of their presence. For example, when our gaze falls upon a friend, we wave or smile at them. Scripture also uses the concept of looking with our eyes so that we may acknowledge God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NCV)
Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.
Sometimes we hear someone call to us and that is how we recognize their presence. The Bible also talks about listening in order to acknowledge God.
Mark 9:7
Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”
We can also recognize someone by their actions. I saw a friend from the back and was not sure if it was the person I thought it was. When they moved, I immediately knew it was my friend.
In the New Testament, we are encouraged to realize that our actions acknowledge God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What we see, hear and do impact our thoughts. God also wants us to acknowledge Him in what we think.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
To quickly apply this verse to our thinking, we can summarize it using the last phrase “if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Ask this question, “Could I praise God with these thoughts?” Anything worthy of praise to Him, is worth dwelling on both now and for all of eternity.
God desires relationship with us. May we be more aware of His presence in the things we see, hear, do and think about. May we acknowledge God through intentional awareness and desire for relationship with Him.