Experiencing God in a meaningful way is the deepest desire of every Christian. We long to connect with our Creator in a real and intimate way. But what is the key to making this happen? The Bible provides insight into how we can truly encounter the presence of God.
At the core, experiencing God requires developing a relationship with Him. God desires that we know Him personally, not just know about Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Like any relationship, this requires quality time and communication. We must make spending time in God’s Word, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship priorities in order to get to know the Lord more deeply.
An essential key is cultivating an attitude of humility before God. We come to Him as our Father, recognizing we are completely dependent on Him for everything (James 4:6-10). Pride and self-sufficiency create barriers to experiencing God’s presence. As we humble ourselves before the Lord, we make room for Him to work in our lives.
Living in obedience to God’s commands also allows us to encounter Him. Jesus told His disciples that those who have His commands and keep them are the ones who love Him, and that He and the Father would come to make Their home with such people (John 14:21-24). Obeying God demonstrates our love for Him and opens the way for greater intimacy.
Additionally, we must deal with any sin in our lives that would hinder us from drawing near to God. The Bible exhorts us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit as we seek to perfect holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1, Hebrews 12:14). Unconfessed sin forms a barrier between us and the Lord, so we must repent and receive God’s forgiveness.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is another key element, as He makes God feel near to us. The Spirit guides us into truth, convicts us of sin, comforts us, helps us pray, and produces His fruit in our lives (John 16:13, Galatians 5:22-23). As we yield more of ourselves to the Spirit’s control, we experience more of God’s presence.
In addition, embracing a life of worship ushers us into God’s presence. Worship focuses our attention on the greatness and worth of God, lifting our eyes above our circumstances to Him. As we worship the Lord with reverence and awe, we begin to experience His glory (Psalm 95:6-7, Psalm 100:2).
Practicing the spiritual disciplines also trains us to encounter God’s presence consistently. Disciplines like prayer, fasting, silence, solitude, and meditation create space for us to hear God’s voice and discern the quiet promptings of the Spirit. They position us to be aware of Him throughout our days.
Serving others is another avenue through which we can experience God’s presence. As we step out in acts of service and live on mission for the Lord, He meets us in fresh ways. We get to see His power working through us, and join Him in building His Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-40).
Finally, learning to wait on the Lord and hope in Him renews our strength to experience Him even in hard times. Waiting fuels patience and trust that God will act when the time is right (Isaiah 40:31, Lamentations 3:25-26). As we waitfaithfully, God draws near to strengthen and reassure us of His presence.
The key to experiencing God does not lie a single method or spiritual practice. Rather, it is found in pursuing an authentic, intimate relationship with Him day in and day out. It is cultivated through time in His Word, prayer, worship, obedience, purity, the Spirit’s work in us, serving God’s purposes, and patiently waiting on Him. As we devote ourselves fully to the Lord, we discover the wonder of truly knowing Him.
Experiencing the presence of God starts with the simple act of making space for Him in our busy lives. As author Brother Lawrence wrote, “We must establish ourselves in a sense of God’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him.” It is through the regular discipline of setting our minds on Christ that we learn to walk steadily in the awareness of His companionship each day.
Life’s demands and distractions can easily crowd God out. But by intentionally cultivating habits and attitudes that draw us close to Him, we can know the joy of His fellowship even in the mundane. A heart tuned to Christ’s presence transforms everyday living into the profound privilege of walking with God.
Truly encountering God may not always involve a mountaintop spiritual experience. More often, it is the quiet sense of His Spirit guiding and comforting us through the ups and downs of life. But as we open ourselves up fully to the Lord each day, He promises to draw near to us as well (James 4:8).
Experiencing God’s manifest presence is not reserved for a select mystical few. It is the birthright and calling of every believer through faith in Jesus. As we yield ourselves completely to walking with Christ daily, the promise of His abiding presence becomes our new normal.
The Christian journey is one of continually discovering the wonder of God’s companionship. Even when we cannot physically perceive Him, we can live confidently in the knowledge that He is always with us (Psalm 139:7-10). Our responsibility is simply to pursue Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
As author A.W. Tozer observed, “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us on to the pursuit.” When we respond wholeheartedly to God’s initiation, we soon find ourselves eagerly seeking His face.
Encountering the living God in a deep and intimate way is the greatest privilege imaginable. His presence is our true home, the place we were created to dwell. As we make knowing Christ our ultimate aim, we discover the abundant life we were meant for – a life wrapped in the light of His glory.