Many people have given up on God. Just as in the realm of personal growth and the pursuit of a meaningful life, only a few remain committed to that spiritual journey. 

These individuals are the ones we read about in inspirational books or see portrayed in uplifting movies. They do what many consider impossible, pushing beyond limitations in their pursuit of fulfillment.

We admire them, often thinking they are extraordinary, without realizing that they actually reflect our original, inherent nature—what all of us are capable of becoming.

For many religious people, the question "What is God?" is rarely asked out loud. Yet deep down, it lingers in everyone’s heart. It's hard to fully believe in something we don’t understand. 

While scripture contains many verses that point to the nature of God, I want to share with you five especially powerful and often overlooked verses that deeply shaped my own understanding and relationship with God.

These verses aren’t meant to challenge your church or pastor but to expand your insight—and hopefully, your personal experience of knowing God. After all, that’s the true purpose of learning and gathering around scripture in the first place.

Knowing About God

So, What Is God?

I want to share with you just five Bible verses that clearly reveal the nature of God—verses that can help you define God for yourself in a way that is lasting and transformative from this day forward. For this, I’ll be using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible.

Let’s begin with:

Genesis 1:2

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Have you ever truly contemplated the depth of this verse? Let’s explore what it means by looking closely at some key phrases.

“The earth was without form...”—this phrase introduces two crucial concepts: formlessness and emptiness. To understand the message, we must consider the context of the time. When the book of Genesis was written, the authors had no concept of planets or galaxies as we do today. So, when they mentioned “the earth,” they weren’t referring just to our planet but to the universe as a whole—an undefined, unshaped, and empty existence.

Now consider the phrase “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” This can be puzzling. How could there be water if everything was void and formless? What this tells us is that even in a state of total emptiness, there was still something present: God as Spirit—an intangible, intelligent, energetic presence preparing to express itself through creation.

So from this verse, we begin to see a definition emerge: God is Spirit—pure, intelligent energy—existing before form, waiting to create.

1 John 4:8

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 

When you quote this verse to someone, they feel like they are attacked as if you are telling them that you are better than they are, or are with God than they can be. Yet it's a simple truth declaration.

This short verse contains two powerful concepts: “knowing God” and “love.”

We often assume we understand love, but John isn’t referring to romantic affection here. He's pointing to the essence of love—the original, untainted force of goodness that flows from God. 

In Defining God, we must understand the difference between true love and the flavored versions of love we experience—those shaped by emotion, attraction, or expectation. John is talking about the source of love.

This tells us something profound: the formless, spiritual energy we saw in Genesis is not only creative but loving by nature. Before anything was created—before hatred, suffering, or sin—there was only love. And even now, if we were to remove all hate from the world, love is what would remain.

To “know” God, then, isn’t about intellectual belief—it’s about experience. It’s about living it, being with it, or doing it.  You don’t truly know love unless you’ve felt it. Likewise, you don’t truly know God unless you’ve experienced that love. 

We'll explore this more deeply in the application section, where we’ll distinguish between knowing about and knowing through experience.

So here’s what we’ve seen so far:

• God is Spirit—invisible, formless, yet intelligent.
  
• God is Love—the original, pure energy of goodness.
  
• Both Spirit and Love are intangible, yet profoundly real—and they are one and the same.
  

And if you recall Genesis 1:31, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” That’s love in action. Everything that flowed from God’s creative Spirit was inherently good. 

When you come to define God in your own life, you begin to realize that you, too, are made from that same goodness—and you are here to express it. Because everyone, without exception, wants to be happy, or feel good.

Psalm 82:6

“I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.’”

This profound statement is echoed by Jesus in John 10:34, where He says, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?” Hopefully, with this confirmation from Christ Himself, you won’t feel the need to simply take my word for it.

According to the creation story, God made many things—and among them, humanity. In our modern understanding, we associate being a child with biological birth. But does this have to cause confusion? In this context, children of the Most High means that you are a product of God, created by and belonging to Him. You are animated by the same Spirit, the same divine energy, that is God.

Now, you might be thinking of your own limitations or struggles and questioning how this could be true. You might feel unworthy, disconnected, or doubtful. That’s understandable. But hold onto those thoughts—we’ll revisit them when we talk about the ego and how, over time, we've traded our awareness of divine identity for a false sense of self.

But if you can accept—even just consider—that you are a child of God, shouldn’t that be cause for joy? After all, joy and happiness are what we’re all pursuing every day. No matter what you've been taught to believe—especially if it contradicts this idea—hold on a little longer. You’ll soon see that happiness isn't just possible; it’s part of your original design.

In line with this truth, I want to share a powerful quote from Patrick Kearon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a conference address, he said:

“The intent of the Father’s great plan of happiness is your happiness—right here, right now, and in the eternities. It is not to prevent your happiness and cause you instead worry and fear.”

My emphasis is on this part: “happiness—right here, right now, and in the eternities.”
Not tomorrow. Not next year. Not only after death or through suffering. Right now.

I understand why this may feel hard to accept or even believe. But stay with me.

This message—that God is present with us now and that joy is accessible now—is also echoed in the beloved worship song Way Maker, which many of us know and love. The song opens with the words: “You are here...”

And we sing along, agreeing with that simple yet powerful truth. But have you ever paused to ask: Who is here? What is here?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comment section.

Exodus 3:14

“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”

You might have wondered earlier: How can I actually be God, or a child of God?
That’s a fair question—but maybe the better one is: What changed? Because when you look at your current life and mindset, all signs may suggest that you're not connected to that divine identity. But the truth is: You are—you've just forgotten or denied it since the moment you began to reason like the world taught you to.

Think about how often you use the phrase “I am” every day. And how often you follow it with something negative:

• I am not good at this.
  
• I am not happy.
  
• I am not healthy.
  
• I am not enough.
  

Even in simple situations, we negate ourselves.
A friend might say, “You could be an athlete—just come train with me.” But you say, “I’m not an athlete.”
And then what happens? You don’t train. You don't explore the potential. And so you never actualize that part of yourself.
Is that God holding you back? Is it the devil? Or is it you denying who you already are?

Ironically, we teach our children to affirm themselves. We tell them:

“You are smart. You are strong. You are a champion.”

And often, they repeat it with conviction:

“I am a football player!”
Even after their first practice.

But as we grow older, we unlearn that mindset. We begin to doubt. We call it “being realistic”—but what we’re really doing is blocking our own truth.

Here’s the thing: when all obstacles are cleared, people begin to act as if they already are what they want to become. That shift in mindset is the biggest step toward actualizing your identity. 

I use actualizing instead of becoming because you’re not creating something new—you’re revealing what was always there, like a seed that never got planted and nurtured.

Affirmation vs. Negation

To correct the habit of self-denial, you must return to the power of affirmation.
Think back to elementary school—remember learning how to form affirmative vs. negative sentences?

To say “I AM” is essentially to say, “Me, God.”
It’s a divine statement. So whatever you add after “I AM” becomes a declaration of creation. That’s why it’s so powerful—and why it matters whether you say “I am strong” or “I am weak.”

We'll explore in the next verse how this shift from negating to affirming leads directly to transformed actions.

But this awareness that you are of God is also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 15:10

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all—yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Here, the Apostle Paul beautifully explains the balance between divine identity and humility. He acknowledges that even though he worked hard, it wasn’t his own strength. It was God’s grace working through him.

This is your invitation too.

Allow God's grace to move in your life.
Accept that you are a part of God, created in His image, infused with His Spirit.
And if that’s true, then you too can do the works of God—not by force or ego, but by remaining receptive to His grace.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”

I specifically chose the New King James Version because many newer translations distort this verse by omitting a keyword: "thinks." This word is crucial because it highlights a profound truth — you ultimately become what you think. Why? Because your thoughts guide your actions, repeated actions become habits, and those habits eventually form your personality. And for many, personality becomes identity.

So, if you begin thinking of yourself as divine — by using “I AM” consciously and reverently — you will begin to embody that truth. This is especially effective when you follow “I AM” with a godly attribute. For example:

• Say “I AM beauty” rather than “I am beautiful.”
  Why? Because you and beauty are one, regardless of your past actions or external appearance. In Defining God, we explore how to use God’s name — “I AM” — properly and powerfully.
  

Remember, your actions follow your thoughts, but your thoughts are not you. You and your thoughts are separate. This distinction is important because many people internalize their thoughts as identity — especially negative ones.

Even our compliments are often laced with negativity. How many times have you heard something like, “You look great… today,” or responded with, “You don’t look bad yourself”?
Think about it: saying “you don’t look bad” implies the person merely avoided looking bad, rather than affirming they look good. 

The negation “not looking bad” is actually an affirmative statement for “looking good”. Why not just say, “You look great, too,” or “You look good as well”? Do you see how inclined in negativity we are?

When you truly believe you look good, your behavior often follows that belief. The same is true for negative beliefs. But it’s not the belief or attribute itself that drives behavior — it’s your body responding to the “script” you feed it through your thoughts.

 Try This Simple Experiment:

1. Spend 5 minutes intentionally thinking about negative situations — fears, failures, regrets.
   
2. Observe how your body feels.
   
3. Then, shift your focus for 5 minutes to uplifting thoughts — joy, love, gratitude, purpose.
   
4. Again, observe the shift in your mood, posture, or energy.
   

This reaction is automatic and largely unconscious, but it proves how powerfully thought shapes your experience — and ultimately your identity.

You may choose to explore this topic further in Defining God, where we dig deeper into the nature of thought, language, and divine identity.

And Now, Knowing God

Most spiritual teachers and preachers have extensively discussed the difference between knowing about something and truly knowing it. For example, most of us know about the president—we’ve seen interviews, read articles, and watched speeches on TV. 

But we’ve never met the president personally. So ask yourself: Do you really know the president, or do you just know about the president? (Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.)

The same distinction applies to the definition of God.

When we study the Scriptures, we’re learning about God. We read stories, memorize verses, and listen to teachings — all important steps in building knowledge about Him. But it’s not until we practice what we’ve learned that we begin to actually know God through experience.

Practice is what transforms information into revelation. It reawakens original consciousness, much like how a woman knows childbirth — not from reading about it, but by experiencing it firsthand. Can a man, even one who has witnessed the birth of his child or who is a gynecologist, truly say he knows childbirth? No — he only knows about it.

In this section, I encourage you to seek out ways to apply the five key verses we've explored, not just to memorize them, but to live them. That’s where knowing God becomes real — and once that happens, doubt begins to disappear.

One bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, quoting another leader on the importance of stillness, once said:

“It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.” President David O. McKay echoed this by saying:

“I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion... Meditation is one of the... most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.”

The invitation here is clear: learning about God is only the beginning. To know God, we must bring our minds, hearts, and actions into alignment — through focused thought, stillness, and spiritual practice.

Let me be clear: this message is not intended to promote or criticize any particular church. My focus here is on the concept of meditation, which is just one of many techniques that can help us put into practice what we’ve learned about God.

Remember, we become what we think about. The mind initiates and processes everything we do in life. And true knowing comes from doing—not simply accumulating information. You don't need to fully understand why you're doing something in order for it to be effective. By doing it, you gain the knowing. Experience is the teacher.

What's paradoxical is that even within the same church where this bishop spoke powerfully about meditation, many followers still do not know how to meditate. Although the bishop’s message was shared at a conference, it’s rarely emphasized during regular church services. Nonetheless, the fact that the message exists and is accessible is important—any sincere seeker of God's grace can take it and put it into practice.

And truly, who wouldn’t want their doubts and fears to flee, just as the bishop encouraged?

Even in the secular world, the value of meditation is becoming more widely recognized. Many institutions now highlight its healing and transformative benefits and how to do it. For example, the University of California states:

“Some people find that regular meditation practice helps them be kind to themselves and more caring towards others. It can also teach you to be a little less reactive when tough situations arise.”

Isn’t that exactly why we study Scripture—to grow in love, patience, compassion, and inner strength?

Healthline also lists ten science-backed benefits of meditation, such as reducing stress, enhancing self-awareness, and improving emotional health. However, once you understand the nature of the ego, as discussed in Defining God, and combine that awareness with regular meditation, stress becomes less of a threat altogether. 

You’ll learn to recognize the early signs of stress and stop it before it takes hold. And if it does arise, you’ll know how to release it quickly—because you understand that you are meant to be happy all the time.

And yes, that is possible. It is doable.

How Do We Apply These Verses Today?
Below are practical suggestions for how to live out each of the five key verses about God—starting with Genesis 1:2.

Genesis 1:2 – God Is Formless

Begin by recognizing that God is a formless, impartial, and intelligent power—an ultimate creative force that brought only goodness into existence. From this point forward, choose to see this divine intelligence in all creation, regardless of how things or people appear or behave.

• Observe a plant seed. Inside that tiny seed lies a dormant intelligence, waiting to unfold—much like an installation file on a computer, expanding and extracting itself into a fully functioning system. That seed doesn’t require your permission to grow; it follows the divine blueprint embedded within it.
  
• Gaze into the universe. Consider how space and its countless elements—stars, planets, galaxies—coexist in precise harmony. They’re not random; they are guided by an unseen, consistent order.
  
• Contemplate the process of human conception. From the simple intention to procreate, to the act of sexual union to collapse the intention into the miraculous development of life from sperm and egg—observe how none of this is orchestrated by human hands. 

The process unfolds automatically, guided by the same intelligence that designed all of creation.

Take time to reflect on these examples—not with the lens of what you were taught in school, but with a deeper sense of wonder and spiritual insight. Go beyond reason. Let your soul observe the beauty of creation, and in that stillness, recognize the unseen hand of God at work everywhere.

Begin each day with 5–10 minutes of silence or prayer. You’re not trying to “do” anything—just to be present. In that stillness, let go of the noise of your thoughts. This is where you begin to feel rather than think your way into awareness.

• Sit quietly.
  
• Breathe deeply.
  
• Silently repeat a word like “peace,” “love,” or “God is here.”
  
• Notice what you feel—not just emotionally, but spiritually.

This grounds you in the present and opens your awareness to God's presence.

1 John 4:8 – God Is Love

In this verse, we are speaking of unconditional love—the kind of love that recognizes only goodness in creation. This divine love never separates, excludes, or shows favoritism. It embraces all things and all people equally.

To practice this awareness, begin by seeing everyone as capable of love, meaning they have the potential to express compassion, kindness, and care.

Start with yourself. Loving yourself means choosing not to think or act in ways that harm you or others. This is entirely possible. Notice the pattern: first, a thought—then an action. Practicing love begins with becoming aware of your thoughts before they turn into behavior.

You can apply this in any relationship—whether with a child, an elder, a spouse, or a friend. As you do, you will begin to notice a shift in your own being. You’ll become more peaceful, open, and aligned with your true self.

One of the most powerful ways to practice this is through meditation, focusing your mind on an intention of kindness—something good you wish to see unfold in your life or in someone else’s. There are many techniques available for this type of meditation, and each one is a step toward truly defining and experiencing God.

Love isn't just a feeling—it’s an action. Make it a goal to do one act of love each day that stretches you beyond your comfort:

• Encourage someone.
  
• Forgive someone.
  
• Help someone who can't repay you.
  
• Speak kindly—even when it’s hard.
  This aligns your nature with God's nature. Love is the pathway to knowing God.

Psalm 82:6 – You Are God

This verse reminds you of a powerful truth: You are divine. The key is to quietly affirm this to yourself, especially in moments of doubt. As my greatest spiritual teacher, Wayne W. Dyer, once taught me: “Keep it a secret.”

Why keep it a secret? Because, as you may have guessed, declaring "I am God" out loud might sound outrageous or even delusional to others. But deep within, it’s the absolute truth.

Your doubts are also understandable. They arise because most of us have not yet learned how to disentangle our Spirit  from the ego. The ego is loud, fearful, and self-centered, while your spiritual essence is quiet, loving, and infinite.

Once you learn to recognize the difference between your ego and your spiritual nature, your doubts will begin to fade. With this clarity, you’ll come to see that you are capable of the same divine acts demonstrated by Jesus, the saints, Mother Teresa, and other sages across time.

Cement that belief with this advice from John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

It’s not about being greater than others—it's about remembering who you already are: a reflection of divine power, with the potential to live in love, create beauty, and heal the world.

Repeat it daily—out loud if possible:
“I am a child of the Most High. I carry God's Spirit within me.”

This isn’t just affirmation—it’s realignment. You're reminding yourself of the truth that already is. Speak it until it feels true in your heart, not just your mind, especially during meditation or contemplation sessions. Afford yourself this time, Yes you can.

Psalm 82:6 – You Are God

This verse reminds you of a powerful truth: You are divine. The key is to quietly affirm this to yourself, especially in moments of doubt. As my greatest spiritual teacher, Wayne W. Dyer, once taught me: “Keep it a secret.”

Why keep it a secret? Because, as you may have guessed, declaring "I am God" out loud might sound outrageous or even delusional to others. But deep within, it’s the absolute truth.

Your doubts are also understandable. They arise because most of us have not yet learned how to disentangle ourselves from the ego. The ego is loud, fearful, and self-centered, while your spiritual essence is quiet, loving, and infinite.

Once you learn to recognize the difference between your ego and your spiritual nature, your doubts will begin to fade. With this clarity, you’ll come to see that you are capable of the same divine acts demonstrated by Jesus, the saints, Mother Teresa, and other sages across time.

It’s not about being greater than others—it's about remembering who you already are: a reflection of divine power, with the potential to live in love, create beauty, and heal the world.

Exodus 3:14 – "I Am" Is God

As we mentioned earlier, you are God, and this verse gives you a practical way to live that truth. It points us back to our original nature, before we were taught the ways of the ego. How do we return to that state? By consciously thinking and declaring the phrase "I Am", followed by whatever you want to embody in that moment.

This is the same process by which God began creation—through intention. In Genesis, we read, “Let there be...,” and there was. In human language, we say God said those words, as if He has a physical mouth but remember: this was before the physical world existed. As Genesis 1:2 tells us, it was just Spirit—formless and non-physical.

So, when Scripture says "God said," it really means God intended. Through that intention with no physical mouth with lips, the Spirit expressed, “I Am the world, I Am water, I Am the sky, I Am space,” and so on. Everything unfolded from that one source—Spirit.

As I explain in Defining God, there is a simple and effective way to apply “I Am” in everyday life. Please explore it, put it into practice, and if you find yourself in doubt, feel free to come back—we can work together to rediscover whatever might be missing.

In the meantime, do you have any questions about your understanding of Exodus 3:14? Be sure to read the surrounding verses to get a fuller context of this powerful declaration.

For now, start noticing every time you say "I AM…" in your thoughts or words. Write them down.

• Are they empowering? (e.g., I am strong, I am guided, I am enough)
  
• Or limiting? (e.g., I am tired, I am not good at this, I am broken)
  Become aware of how you're defining yourself—because your words shape your reality.

Proverbs 23:7 – As You Think, So Shall You Be

I’m paraphrasing Earl Nightingale’s interpretation of this passage: "As you think, so shall you be." This insight aligns perfectly with Exodus 3:14, where we explored the use of "I AM"—the name of God—as the starting point of all creation. Like everything else we say or do, it all begins with a thought.

The awareness that every creation, invention, and transformation begins in the mind is a profound truth that many overlook. Think about it—is it even possible to do anything, consciously or unconsciously, without first thinking about it? If you have a different view, feel free to share in the comments.

In Defining God—as well as many other resources referenced there—you’ll find deeper insights into how thoughts shape reality. If this is your first time hearing this perspective, take it as an invitation to expand your understanding.

So begin today: define God for yourself, live in alignment with that definition, and step into the life you were destined to experience—a life of joy, purpose, and blessing. Express that joy with our fellow humans by sharing your experience!

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