By Aying Godman | Evangelist and Educator | Founder of Catholic Front Good News Global Ministry for JESUS CHRIST
SUPPORT OUR MISSION | DONATE | #TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
“How great are God’s riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways? As the scripture says, “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice?” (Romans 11:33-34).
We live now in an era where theological knowledge is more accessible than ever. But while studying Scripture is vital, a subtle trap awaits the devout believer – the temptation to “over-know” God. This happens when our information about God eclipses our actual intimacy with Him.
What does it mean to over-know God? “To ‘over-know’ God means to confuse intimacy with mastery. It is the moment our closeness to the Creator turns into a casual entitlement, where we think we have Him figured out well enough to predict, manage, or manipulate Him.”
THE FOLLY OF OVER-KNOWING GOD
As the scripture says: “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:34) Therefore, when we claim to have God completely figured out, we shrink His infinite majesty down to the size of our human intellect. True faith requires embracing the mystery of a God whose ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) – with humility.
Let Humility Boost Your Understanding of God
SUPPORT OUR MISSION | DONATE | #TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
As believers, growing in the knowledge of God is a beautiful privilege. However, when we turn sacred revelation into a tool for control, entitlement, or judgment. Or when we confuse our closeness with God as a license to act in His place, we derail the very purpose of our calling. We are called to seek God and study His Word every day (Joshua 1:8), but spiritual insight must never morph into spiritual pride. When we claim to know the mind of the Lord perfectly, our knowledge can subtly shift from a tool of grace into a weapon of control. On the contrary, recognizing the limits of our understanding of God protects us from falling into dangerous traps regarding our faith.
Therefore, let us walk in the Light without eclipsing the Sun. Here are crucial guardrails to ensure our faith remains a source of life, grace, and authentic fellowship for ourselves, the Church, and for the whole world.
1. THE TRAP OF WEAPONIZED KNOWLEDGE
Guard Your Knowledge: Empower, Don’t Exploit
The knowledge of God is given to build up the body of Christ, not to tear it down. We are never to use our understanding of scripture to abuse, intimidate, or exploit those who do not yet know God or believe in Him. Instead, our words should inspire and motivate them.
Scriptures: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
The Trap: Using your spiritual knowledge to abuse, intimidate, oppress, manipulate or exploit those who are spiritually immature, is acting contrary to the heart of Jesus Christ.
The Truth: Biblical literacy is given to serve, not to dominate. Use your understanding of God to love, inspire, and guide others to seek God.
Scripture: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
2. THE PRESUMPTION UPON GOD’S GRACE
Avoid Presumption: Grace is Not a Blank Check
Our close relationship with God must humble us, not make us puff up and take His mercy for granted. It is a grave error to assume that God will always agree with our actions, automatically forgive every choice, or bless us no matter how we use those blessings. His grace is an invitation to holiness, not a license for compromise. A deep relationship with God should increase our reverence, not our carelessness.
Scripture: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” (Romans 6:1-2)
The Trap: Taking God’s love and mercy for granted. This includes assuming He will compromise His holiness for your lifestyle, automatically forgive unrepentant sin, or blindly bless you regardless of how you misuse those blessings.
The Truth: God is a loving Father, but He is also a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) who demands holy stewardship. Let us respect the boundaries of God’s character; and do not presume upon His patience.
Scripture: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)
3. ABSTAIN FROM RIVALRY WITH GOD
Do Not Rival the Creator
We must never allow our relationship with God to cause us to act like Him. Judging, condemning, and seeking vindication belong to God alone. When we attempt to take His place, or when we take the glory for His works instead of thanking Him, we step into the sin of pride. For, the moment we step into God’s lane, we repeat the ancient fall of enemy forces.
The Trap: Trying to rival God by contesting His sovereign decisions, dictating terms, or taking over roles reserved strictly for Him – such as seeking personal vindication, judging, and condemning others.
The Truth: Taking credit for what God has done robs Him of His glory (Isaiah 48:11). And taking God’s glory for what He has done is a dangerous overstep. Instead, we should acknowledge His goodness, thank Him, and leave the judging to Him.
Scripture: “What I do is done for my own sake – I will not let my name be dishonored or let anyone else share the glory that should be mine and mine alone.” (Isaiah 48:11)
4. BEING A SIGNPOST, NOT A GATEKEEPER
SUPPORT OUR MISSION | DONATE | #TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
Be a Signpost, Not a Gatekeeper
Our relationship with Christ should never hinder others from having their own personal encounters with Him. We must avoid the mistake of the disciples who tried to stop blind Bartimaeus from crying out to Jesus (Mark 10:48). Believers are to act as open signposts, much like John the Baptist, who gladly pointed his own followers directly to Jesus, saying, “Behold, this is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36).
We are called to be open signpost directing people straight to Jesus, as John the Baptist was, not roadblocks stopping people from reaching Him.
Scripture: “John the Baptist said, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”‘” (John 1:23).
The Trap: Blocking others from a personal encounter with God so that they feel forced to go through you to hear from Heaven. This mirrors the first apostles trying to silence blind Bartimaeus on his way to Jesus.
The Truth: We must emulate John the Baptist, who freely directed his own disciples to Christ. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
5. MANIPULATING GOD’S WILL
Submit to the Divine Will, Don’t Command It
Our prayer should not be a tool used to manipulate God’s will to match selfish motives, nor should His name be used for evil purposes. When we pray, we should not issue commands to the Creator to fulfill our selfish ambitions. Rather, we should plead with Him and submit our desires to His perfect sovereignty.
Scripture: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
We cannot twist the will of God to match our selfish ambitions, nor should we call upon His name in vain or for evil purposes. When we pray, we are not commanding the Creator like a servant; rather, we are pleading with a loving Father to align our desires with His most perfect will. Therefore, prayer is about aligning our hearts with Heaven, not bending Heaven to fit our earthly agendas.
The Trap: Trying to twist God’s will to match selfish motives, calling on His name for vain or evil purposes, or commanding Him to accomplish your schedule.
The Truth: We must approach God with requests, not ultimatums. Let us submit our will to that of God, praying with humility and surrender.
Scripture: Satan said to Jesus: ““If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, ‘God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’ “Jesus answered, “But the scripture also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:6-7)
6. THE IlLLUSION OF SPIRITUAL MONOPOLY
SUPPORT OUR MISSION | DONATE | #TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
Embrace Humility and Shared Grace
Avoid falling into the deception that God loves you more than others, speaks only to you, or that your spiritual group has an exclusive monopoly on His care. God’s love is universal. (John 3:16). Therefore, we must humbly accept that we do not know everything about God; there is always more of His character to discover and learn throughout our lives. Believing you “know everything” about God limits your spiritual growth.
Scripture: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
The Truth: Stay humble and recognize that there is always more of God’s nature to learn. The infinite nature of God means our learning will never end on this side of eternity.
Moreover, admit that God has no favorite children; He only has children.
Scripture: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
The Trap: Believing God loves you more than others, speaks exclusively to you, or that you have nothing left to learn about Him.
Scripture: “For God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11)
7. EMBRACING TRUE KNOWLEDGE – THE PATH FORWARD
Knowing God shouldn’t make us arrogant; it should make us profoundly humble. As believers worldwide, let our pursuit of God be marked not by how much we can boast, but by how effectively we radiate His love, honor His sovereignty, and point others to the foot of the cross. Let us commit to knowing God rightly, so we may live righteously. As the scripture says: “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)
Let us stop treating the Creator of the universe as a formula to solve and begin worshiping Him as the King that He is. Shift your prayers from “Lord, do my will” to “Lord, fulfill your will in me.” (Matthew 6:10; Luke 1:38):
THE “STEP ASIDE” 3-DAY CHALLENGE
To shift from “over-knowing” God to truly honoring Him; please, take this 3-day challenge with us this weekend:
- Day 1: Silence the Gatekeeper. Identify one person you have secretly judged or written off spiritually. Pray specifically for God to grant them a direct, powerful encounter with His love – without your intervention.
- Day 2: Flip Your Prayers. In your prayer time today, do not ask God for a single favor or give Him a “to-do” list. Instead, repeat the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
- Day 3: Give Away the Glory. If someone compliments your talent, your wisdom, or your spiritual growth today, consciously deflect the praise. Sincerely reply, “Thank God for His goodness, because I have nothing without Him.” (Psalm 16:2),
💬 Share your thoughts below: Which part of this challenge feels the most difficult for you to try? Please, let’s talk about it in the comments. Share! May God bless you abundantly!
SUPPORT OUR MISSION | DONATE | #TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Copyright (c) Aying Godman | Evangelist & Educator | Founder of Catholic Front Good News Global Ministry for JESUS CHRIST
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Leave a comment