By The Rev. Michael Clark

I was asked if I felt that God was distant and hard to know. After all, even the Bible states that God the Father has not been seen by anyone. Yet, the Bible also teaches that God clearly makes Himself known and speaks to us constantly.

How? I invite you to consider with me how God speaks to us. Here are 10 ways God reveals the truth about who He is and what He wants us to know and do in this life and for eternity.

God speaks boldly to us in two ways:

First, instead of remaining invisible, far above and infinitely greater than us, God became flesh and blood in Jesus Christ, fully expressing God to us. If we want to know who God is, look at Jesus and listen to Him.

Second, when Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to be our new counselor and guide to knowing and following God. The Holy Spirit comes alongside us and lives within everyone who opens their lives to Jesus as their Lord. Awe and wonder overcome us when we comprehend that God the Holy Spirit lives with us every day.

God speaks clearly to us in three more ways:

Third, we received from God His inspired written Word in the Bible. Though written through many different authors over hundreds of years, the Bible consistently reveals the same truth from God without error.

Fourth, God sends us the spoken Word by prophets. Prophets don’t just tell the future. Prophets speak God’s truth as they receive it from God. Prophets still speak to us today.

Fifth, Jesus gave the Church two special revelations known as the visible Word of God - the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion.

God speaks every day to us in these five ways:

Sixth, He speaks through His Body, the Church, and the collective wisdom and experience of brother and sister followers of Christ.

Seventh, the Lord speaks through direct, two-way conversation in prayer. We find it easy to speak to the Lord, but it takes practice to hear His voice speaking back to us.

Eighth, The Lord uses our daily situations - good, bad and in-between - to teach us indirectly about His truth.

Ninth, His creation around us cries out about God. We call this natural revelation, and it speaks volumes about God’s concern for order, while also displaying an immense joy in diversity, beauty and wonder.

Finally, God placed within us His law upon our souls called the conscience.

Maybe you did not realize that God speaks so clearly and frequently to us. We can turn a deaf ear to so many of these revelations from God. Or we can learn to open our ears, hearts, minds and spirits to the wonderful words of life we receive daily from the Lord God.

The Rev. Michael Clark is pastor of the Los Altos Union Presbyterian Church.