BIBLE UNDERSTANDING KNOW GOD'S POWER AND SEE HIS GLORY

1.) Scripture
Psalms 63:1‭-‬8
O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.  Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are.  Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you.  I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer.  My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.  As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you,  because you have always been my help. In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.  I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe.

Exodus 6:7
I will make you my own people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD your God when I set you free from slavery in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 26:8
By his great power and strength he rescued us from Egypt. He worked miracles and wonders, and caused terrifying things to happen.

John 14:21
“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”

2 Corinthians 3:18
All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.

Romans 8:29
Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the eldest brother in a large family.

Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God — what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

KNOWING GOD'S POWER AND GLORY 
Do you long to know God more and His power and His glory? The more we see ourselves for who we are, the less we will depend on ourselves and the more we will long for something far greater and far more powerful. 

In Psalm 63, David not only acknowledges that God is his God, but also seeks after Him earnestly. He doesn't put his trust in himself, in others, or in the things of the world. Instead he says with confidence that he has seen God's power and God's glory. Throughout the Psalms, we hear David's heart; he places his trust in God and in His Word. David remembers God's promises and recounts His power and faithfulness. (If you have time, read Psalm 18.)
Knowing God is faithful to keep His promises, what promise of God do you need to remember?
The pursuit of holiness means we put aside what 'self' may feel, think, or want and leave it all behind. It means denying ourselves and placing ALL of our trust in Christ. David is not striving for self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, or self-actualization. Likewise, Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, declares, 'We have left everything and followed you' (Matthew 19:27 ESV). 

Step-by-step, we must follow God and His Word in obedience, and He will shine a light on the path ahead (John 14:21). 
But don't just try to follow a list of rules or be a 'good Christian.' Following Christ means believing you have no righteousness of your own and choosing to trust and enjoy Christ, knowing He is all you need. 
The more you seek after Him with all of your heart and follow Him fully, the more He will become your All in all, cleansing you, satisfying your longings, healing your wounds, and forming you into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:29, Colossians 3:10).
This week begin to walk forward by faith according to God's Word instead of according to your own insight, feelings, or other's peoples opinions. Put all of your trust in Christ alone. He will make Himself known to you as God Most High. Be patient. Be faithful. Step forward by faith.
In the pattern of Romans 12:2, choose one scripture from today that the Lord is using to renew your mind and transform your heart. Meditate on it today and live according to it.

2.) Scripture
Genesis 1:1‭-‬25
In the beginning, when God created the universe,  the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. Then God commanded, “Let there be light” — and light appeared. God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness, and he named the light “Day” and the darkness “Night”. Evening passed and morning came — that was the first day.   Then God commanded, “Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places” — and it was done. So God made a dome, and it separated the water under it from the water above it. He named the dome “Sky”. Evening passed and morning came — that was the second day.  Then God commanded, “Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear” — and it was done. He named the land “Earth”, and the water which had come together he named “Sea”. And God was pleased with what he saw. Then he commanded, “Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit” — and it was done. So the earth produced all kinds of plants, and God was pleased with what he saw. Evening passed and morning came — that was the third day.  Then God commanded, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin; they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth” — and it was done. So God made the two larger lights, the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night; he also made the stars. He placed the lights in the sky to shine on the earth, to rule over the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God was pleased with what he saw. Evening passed and morning came — that was the fourth day.  Then God commanded, “Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the air be filled with birds.” So God created the great sea monsters, all kinds of creatures that live in the water, and all kinds of birds. And God was pleased with what he saw. He blessed them all and told the creatures that live in the water to reproduce, and to fill the sea, and he told the birds to increase in number. Evening passed and morning came — that was the fifth day.  Then God commanded, “Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small” — and it was done. So God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw.

Philippians 3:7‭-‬11
But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere refuse, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.

Psalms 40:1‭-‬3
I waited patiently for the LORD 's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.  He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure.  He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God. Many who see this will take warning and will put their trust in the LORD.

POWER IN HIS WORD
Let's take a glimpse at the astounding power of God's Word, a power that magnificently creates, transforms, and reigns - a power that distinguishes Him as the one true God. 

Read Genesis 1:1-25. Observe and ponder the beautiful and awesome power of God speaking forth His Word. 

The power of the Lord is infinite and boundless. The Bible begins by saying that God spoke the heavens and the earth into being. That is power beyond anything we can fully understand! Meditate on the power and might of the Lord, especially the power of His Word. He is worth knowing and trusting and worthy of all praise and worship and devotion.

Read Philippians 3:7-11. When you consider everything as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ as Lord, you can be sure that it is God at work in your life. As you seek after Him more and more, He will reveal Himself and His power and His glory to you. You will see His character, His love, and His power lived out through you, but you will know it is Christ and not you! 

The purpose of this study is not merely to increase your knowledge, although I do hope it will. And it is not designed to make you a better person. It is meant to help you develop an intimate, one-on-one relationship with our great Creator God, a one-on-one agape love affair with Jesus Christ - through His Word. Many don't consider this type of intimacy - a relationship that meets their deepest needs and turns things right-side up that have seemed so totally upside down - even possible. 

Ask Him to use this devotion in your life in a life-transforming way. He will do it. It is only by His grace that we can do anything. 

Read Psalm 40:1-3 and make it your prayer. May everyone around you know that something wonderful, something 'out of this world,' has happened to cause you to never be the same again. May you, and they, see His power and His glory! 

3.) Scripture
Genesis 1:26‭-‬28
Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.”  So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.

Psalms 100:3
Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock.

Psalms 68:1‭-‬35
God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat.  As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence.  But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy.  Sing to God, sing praises to his name; prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds. His name is the LORD — be glad in his presence!  God, who lives in his sacred Temple, cares for orphans and protects widows.  He gives the lonely a home to live in and leads prisoners out into happy freedom, but rebels will have to live in a desolate land.  O God, when you led your people, when you marched across the desert,   the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain, because of the coming of the God of Sinai, the coming of the God of Israel.  You caused abundant rain to fall and restored your worn-out land;  your people made their home there; in your goodness you provided for the poor.  The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news:  “Kings and their armies are running away!” The women at home divided what was captured:  figures of doves covered with silver, whose wings glittered with fine gold. (Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?)  When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon, he caused snow to fall there.  What a mighty mountain is Bashan, a mountain of many peaks!  Why from your mighty peaks do you look with scorn on the mountain on which God chose to live? The LORD will live there for ever!  With his many thousands of mighty chariots the Lord comes from Sinai into the holy place.   He goes up to the heights, taking many captives with him; he receives gifts from rebellious people. The LORD God will live there.  Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.  Our God is a God who saves; he is the LORD , our Lord, who rescues us from death.  God will surely break the heads of his enemies, of those who persist in their sinful ways.  The Lord has said, “I will bring your enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the ocean,  so that you may wade in their blood, and your dogs may lap up as much as they want.”  O God, your march of triumph is seen by all, the procession of God, my king, into his sanctuary.  The singers are in front, the musicians are behind, in between are the young women beating the tambourines.  “Praise God in the meeting of his people; praise the LORD , all you descendants of Jacob!”  First comes Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah with their group, followed by the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.  Show your power, O God, the power you have used on our behalf  from your Temple in Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts to you.  Rebuke Egypt, that wild animal in the reeds; rebuke the nations, that herd of bulls with their calves, until they all bow down and offer you their silver. Scatter those people who love to make war!  Ambassadors will come from Egypt; the Ethiopians will raise their hands in prayer to God.  Sing to God, kingdoms of the world, sing praise to the Lord,  to him who rides in the sky, the ancient sky. Listen to him shout with a mighty roar.  Proclaim God's power; his majesty is over Israel, his might is in the skies.  How awesome is God as he comes from his sanctuary — the God of Israel! He gives strength and power to his people. Praise God!

Psalms 29:1‭-‬2
Praise the LORD , you heavenly beings; praise his glory and power.  Praise the LORD 's glorious name; bow down before the Holy One when he appears.

GOD IS GOD
Even though we have been created in God's image to glorify Him, God is God and we are not. God is the all-powerful creator, and we are the created. We are to reflect His rule and reign, but we are not God.
Read Genesis 1:26-28. The beasts, the birds, and the fish were all created after their own kind. What image was man to reflect? Psalm 100:3 declares, "Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (ESV). 

As you pray today, include the confession, 'God is God and I am not.' We need to affirm this truth in our hearts, in our minds, and in our souls. Declaring His might helps us comprehend this important truth and take it to heart. 
Prayerfully read Psalm 68. Then recite Psalm 29:1-2 in your head and in your heart in faith. Copy and paste it in a text or email to yourself and read it several times this week.

4.) Scripture
John 1:1‭-‬5 :9‭-‬10
In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to humanity. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
This was the real light — the light that comes into the world and shines on everyone.  The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him.

John 1:14
The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

Colossians 1:15‭-‬19
Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the firstborn Son, superior to all created things. For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, Lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the firstborn Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God.

Colossians 1:9‭-‬12
For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light.

WHO IS JESUS?
Today we will look at God's power and glory as demonstrated through His one and only Son, who is fully God and fully man. 

Who was in the beginning with God? What do these verses say about Him? Make a mental list or write it in a journal. 
Christ is preeminent. He is first, over all, above all, and in all. Read Colossians 1:15-19. Who are you in light of who Christ is? How can His power and His glory transform how you see things and how you live your life? 
Colossians 1:9-12. Paul indicates in his prayer for the Colossians that, by God's grace, knowing these things would encourage and strengthen them in their walk with the Lord. 
Give thanks to God and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for we serve a great God and King above all kings!