Practicing Acknowledgment of God in Daily Life and Decision-Making

Acknowledging God in daily life and decision-making involves a conscious effort to recognize and honor God's presence and will. This concept is rooted in biblical teachings that encourage believers to seek God's guidance and to live a life pleasing to Him ^{[1, 2]}.

The biblical anchor for this practice is found in various passages that exhort believers to seek God, follow His commandments, and live a life that is pleasing to Him. For instance, Ephesians 5:10 encourages believers to "try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" ^[2]. Similarly, Proverbs 3:1-2 instructs believers to "not forget" God's commandments and to "keep" them, promising that this will lead to a long and peaceful life. This emphasis on obedience and seeking God's will is a recurring theme in biblical teachings ^[5].

In the view of Protestant academics, the goal of the present life is to please God, and this ambition will be tested when believers stand before Christ to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) ^[7]. This understanding is echoed in the writings of the Puritan commentator Matthew Henry, who notes that living a life of communion with God is of "great consequence" and will be of "unspeakable advantage" ^[5].

The practice of acknowledging God involves several key elements, including seeking God with the heart (2 Chronicles 15:12), keeping His commandments (Nehemiah 10:29), and following Him fully (Numbers 14:24) ^[1]. It also involves cultivating Christian graces, such as patience, which is considered essential for running the race set before believers and for bringing forth fruits (2 Peter 1:6; Luke 8:15) ^[3].

Different Christian traditions interpret the practice of acknowledging God in daily life and decision-making in similar ways, emphasizing the importance of obedience, seeking God's will, and living a life pleasing to Him. For example, one commentary tradition on Colossians 1:10 notes that true knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it, and that believers should strive to be "fruitful" and "increasing in the knowledge of God" ^[4]. Similarly, the Baptist/Reformed commentary on Ephesians 5:9 emphasizes that believers should strive to prove what is acceptable to the Lord, and that their actions should be directed towards God's glory ^[6].

In historical Christian thought, the practice of acknowledging God has been understood as a means of deepening one's relationship with Him and of living a life that is consistent with biblical teachings. As the Methodist/Wesleyan commentator Adam Clarke notes, acknowledging God involves recognizing one's infinite obligations to Him and living a life of dependence on and gratitude to Him ^[9].

The biblical concept of "knowing" God is also closely tied to the practice of acknowledging Him. In Exodus 29:46, "knowing" God is understood as acknowledging Him and recognizing one's obligations to Him. This understanding is echoed in the writings of the Protestant academic commentators, who note that knowing God involves experiencing the mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and sharing in His death (Philippians 3:10) ^{[8, 9]}.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Ephesians “Ephesians 5:10 (NASB) — trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:10: Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord-- (Eph 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to ”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:9: Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. There are many things that are acceptable to God, as the person of Christ, his righteousness, sacrifice, sufferings, death, and mediation; the persons of his people, their services, sufferings, sacrifices of prayer, and praise to him, and of bounty and liberality to the poor; their graces, and the exercise of them; and the actions of their lives and conversations, when they are becoming the Gospel, are according to the will of God, and are done in faith, and are directed to his glory: and these things which are acceptable to”
2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:9: 5:9-10 The goal of the present life is to please him (see also Rom 12:1-2; 14:18; Col 1:10; 1 Thes 4:1). This ambition will be tested when we stand before Christ to be judged. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of acquittal (Rom 8:1, 33-34). Yet actions done in this earthly body will be assessed and called to account (Acts 17:31).”
Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 3:10: 3:10 to know Christ: In knowing him, a person knows and is accepted by God (cp. 3:7-8; John 1:12-13; 17:3). • Believers experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead, both now and in eternity (see Rom 6:4-14; 8:10-11; Col 3:1-4). • to suffer with him, sharing in his death: Joined to Christ, a believer has the privilege of experiencing his life and death (see Phil 1:29; 2 Cor 4:10-12; Col 1:24; 1 Pet 4:13-16).”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 29:46: And they shall know that I am the Lord their God - That is, They shall acknowledge God, and their infinite obligations to him. In a multitude of places in Scripture the word know should be thus understood. That I may dwell among them - For without this acknowledgment and consequent dependence on and gratitude and obedience to God, they could not expect him to dwell among them. By dwelling among the people God shows that he would be a continual resident in their houses and in their hearts; that he would be their God - the sole object of their religious worship, to w”

Ask Your Own Question