Sometimes our preconceived ideas about God and studying the Bible are what keep us from simply experiencing and knowing God.
Often we get so caught up in the activities surrounding Christianity, we end up disillusioned and questioning our faith.
But we don’t have to live in this state.
Because God is alive and active, we can interact with him all day long.
Here are 3 steps to begin to experience God
Ready your heart to meet God
God is alive and wants to interact with you! But in order for us to interact with God, we often need to clear our minds of any preconceived ideas and ready our heart to meet God. We need to practice keeping our mind, body, and emotions focused on Christ throughout our daily activities. As we learn to do this, we will come to know God in deeper ways.
A prayer to ready your heart:
“Lord, please clear my heart and mind of all that is distracting me today. Draw me close to you today“
Humble yourself before God
Sometimes as we start to pursue God in deeper ways, we end up trying to accomplish this goal in our own strength. We inadvertently create checklists in our brain of all we need to do to draw close to God.
But this is the OPPOSITE of what we need to do to experience God!
Instead, focus on humbling yourself before God and invite him into your daily activities. Put yourself in a position to hear from God, to learn from God, to know God, and to be changed by God.
Prayer to humble yourself:
“Lord, forgive me for depending on my own strength and abilities to know you better. Today, keep me humble before you and dependent on you. Draw me close to you and enable me to experience you all day long.“
Get rid of your distractions
Even with the best of intentions, what often keeps us from experiencing God are simply our daily distractions.
Is the TV or radio always on everywhere you go? The noise may be stopping you from hearing God’s voice.
Are you overscheduling your life? The busyness may not be leaving you the margin you need to see God working around you.
Are you angry at God? Confused by God? Apathetic towards God? Keeping these emotions to yourself can stop you from truly drawing near to God.
Today, simply tell God what is distracting you and ask him to enable you to remove all distractions. Be honest with God and give over to him the distractions of your life.
Prayer for getting rid of your distractions:
“Lord, help me get rid of everything that is distracting me. Enable me to live out Hebrews 12 and “strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up…” Enable me to do this by “keeping my eyes on Jesus” as I walk throughout my day”.
Today is the day to begin
Don’t wait another day to start experiencing God. Today, ready your heart, humble yourself, and get rid of all distractions for the sole purpose of knowing God in a deeper way.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Spiritual Disciplines: Ways to Pursue Personal Godliness
What to Do When Your Emotions are Overwhelming
Thanks for sharing these tips: “Put yourself in a position to hear from God, to learn from God, to know God, and to be changed by God.”- my favourite part
Such a helpful post! Thank you for sharing. I definitely sometiems struggle with relying too much on my own strength and feel like I need to complete my to do lists before coming to God. Thanks for this important reminder!
Love, Britta
http://www.brightandboldlife.com
I struggle with that at times too! We all need this reminder every once in a while I think =)
I love this Kari! Getting to spend time with God everyday is the greatest blessing we have. When I first got started seeking God, I came with all my preconceived notions too. But God has changed all that. He will move heaven and earth to have a relationship with us. Awesome post sweet sister …
Such a great line, “he will move heaven and earth to have a relationship with us”. Love that reminder!
Thank you, I’d like to hear from GOD , so I do check the boxes as a list. I need to just be more humble as you said