The Bible describes God

Apha & Omega, creator, omniscient, omnipresent, the great I AM, Jehova, Father, Abba, and the like can be used to label God. These can create a sense of God being separate from ourselves.

God is not distant, but if we have learned God to be distant, we will believe God is distant, and thus not know Him.

Luke 21:31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?

Acts 15:8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

God is within us

The Spirit of God is near and within us. Yet we have much knowledge and understanding that can block us from hearing and sensing this Spirit. 

We must humble ourselves, slow down, listen, use our senses, and learn from them.

To know God better will require a development of new understanding with God's Good. To know God is to to know God's Good.

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Matthew 9:13 & 12:7

1 John 4:7 - 8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

As we grow God's love inwardly we can respond with it better outwardly. We are instructed to love God with our all and each other.

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

To taste and see God will require repentance or turning from evil to Good. We will need to practice giving up old beliefs or misunderstandings while clinging to God's Good.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

God is described with character

God is peace, forgiveness, and mercy. We can practice these traits, think about them, learn from them, and love them.  

We must avoid self-condemnation for there is no love in it. Instead, we can practice patience, forgiveness, and encouragement to be in God's Good.

Each day we can set our minds to grow, practice, and experience God's Good.

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

We can submit ourselves for training.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We may always have impurities, conflicts, confusion, distractions, and make mistakes. We likely will never fully understand God. Yet we can know God better and increase in God's blessings.

(See Matthew 5)

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Growing with God is to grow with love. 1 Corinthians 13 provides principles we can grow in. Verses 4 - 7 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

In order to grow or improve with God's love we must prioritize it and act with it. We need to think about it, how it is written. We need to evaluate ourselves to ensure we are indeed taking corrective action.

Worshiping God involves a sincere honest reverence (deep respect) to God. This is genuine love to God.

What is acting in truth?

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

We are to examine ourselves for how well we are respecting God. Are we humbling ourselves, waiting, and listening for God's guidance? Are we following God and learning?

The human brain functions by drawing conclusions about information. We decide what is true quickly and unconsciously. Then we make choices based upon such unconscious conclusions. God does not have this issue.

Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.

Being impartial and reducing our personal preferences and bias requires self-examination and identification of our thinking errors. This will require patient reflection. 

We must be willing to experience uncomfortable correction. We must not let pride or fixed mindsets block our growth.

Do we have preferences, entitlements, expectations, demands, and desires that produce impatience, fear, anger, or other forms of evil? 

John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

We can begin to wonder what it would be like if we were more peaceful and loving within our thoughts, movements, words, and goals.

We can study righteousness and act toward peace. We can seek the Holy Spirit. We can experience joy in the Holy Spirit as we align our inward parts more with God's righteousness. We can be more peaceful.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

We can grow in compassion and mercy. We can learn through experience compassion and affection. A good example of mercy in the Bible is the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37

Jesus ends this story saying "Go and do likewise."

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 6:14 - 15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

We can forgive, even ourselves. The goal is peace and love. We can seek within us where forgiveness is needed.

Resentment, anger, and discord within our minds and hearts can conflict and interfere with experiencing peace and love. To be free of anger and resentment will require the practice of forgiveness. This involves making decisions to put an end to thoughts of complaining, arguing, blaming, attacking, or fighting.