MOMENT TO MOMENT ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

Did you know you can have moment-to-moment encounters with God? How many times have we had a checklist of what to do and how to pray just so that we can tick a box? We have reduced our walk with God to a chore. Sometimes we even have specific phrases we use while praying and even a specific way we read the Bible. Do you have a specific posture for prayer? Do you have a specific time you have set for prayer? Now don’t get me wrong, all these practices are good. We should have a set time for prayer. The problem comes in when we only let God in during that set time for prayer.

God wants to commune with you on a moment-to-moment basis. Praying for an hour is good. But let me ask you this: have you allowed God to invade every area of your life, or do you only engage with Him during prayer? Do you stop to check-in, in the middle of the day? Does God have the go-ahead to interrupt your schedule? We need to realize that God does not want to commune with us only at specific times; He wants it to be frequent. In fact, the quality of your time with God is more important to Him than the quantity.

Again, God wants you to invite Him into every area of your life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. He wants to be your friend and walk with you. You get not only to encounter God when you are reading the Bible, listening to worship music, or doing Christian stuff. You can encounter Him while watching a movie, even hanging out with your friends, or at work. God is real and His Spirit is in us and Jesus, His Son also lives in us. Your invite is all He is waiting on, He says that when you invite Him, He will come in and dwell with you. God does not want to violate our free will. Although He so desires to have a relationship with all His children, He will never force Himself on us. He will definitely pursue us though.

I heard someone say something that wrecked me the other day. This person said that God will never get you out of an abusive relationship so that He can get you into another. He will love you and let you go to hell if you do not turn to Him. We obviously know that hell was not created for humans but for the devil and his fallen angels. But God will in love allow us to go to hell if we so wish. God does not hate sinners and unbelievers. The Bible tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

JOHN 3:16

His love for us did not start when we got saved. No! That is why He gives rain and sunshine to both believers and unbelievers alike. He does not discriminate. He will reject no one who runs to Him. God is always waiting for us, just like the prodigal son’s father was always waiting for his return. This is clear because he could recognize his son from afar.

How can you have encounters with God?

Unlike in the old testament, we have the privilege of having encounters with God every day if we so desired. When God created Adam and Eve, He wanted to fellowship and commune with them. The same case applies to you and me. That is why God made provision for reconciliation. And this was through the death of Jesus on the cross. God knew we would not keep our end of the deal. Therefore, even before the creation of human beings, He provided an avenue for reconciliation.

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.1 Pet 1:19-21

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph 3:9-11

As we can see from these 2 scriptures, God had already ordained Jesus to go to the cross before the foundation of the world. This proves that He still wanted to fellowship with us even after we messed up. He knew we would mess up, yet He created us anyway. What an amazing love God has for you and me. In fellowship, that’s where we have encounters with God.

So the first key to having encounters with God is to have fellowship with Him. Fellowship with Him is simply spending time with Him. You can only encounter Him when you spend time with Him. Spending time with Him involves intentionally setting time aside to hear from Him. God is always waiting for you to make room for Him. The question is, have you? You don’t have to restrict your time with Him to only during prayer. You can include Him in every moment with Him. Abraham included God in every aspect of His life. That was why He was a friend of God.

Moses did nothing without God. In fact, at some point, He told God that he would not leave if God’s presence did not go with Him. Having encounters with God is possible for you and me. So how can we include God in our everyday life?

How then can we include God in our everyday life?

Having a relationship with Jesus is the first key to having encounters with God

The first step is to have a relationship with Him. The only way you can commune is through accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This is then the beginning of your beautiful journey with Him. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? There is no way you can have a relationship with God apart from Jesus. Jesus clearly told us that He is the way, the Truth, and Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 

¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14

You can never have encounters with God until you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says that when you believe in your heart and you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, then you will be saved. It is as simple as that. You only need to say a prayer and mean it from the depths of your heart. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and invite Him into your heart. Jesus says that He is standing and knocking at the door. Anyone who lets Him in, He promises that He and the Father will come in and dwell. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Do so today.

The next step would be to read your Bible. Start with the book of John as it talks of Jesus and His love for us. It will also help you understand God as a loving God who will do anything to get you back. The book of Galatians explains our identity in Christ, so I would recommend it as well. Having encounters with God starts when you know Him. And the best way to know God is by reading His word. The Bible gives us a blueprint of God’s character and heart. The more you spend time reading His word, the more you get to know Him. And this in turn will make you open to having encounters with God. How often do you read the word of God?

Expect to have encounters with God.

An expectant heart makes room for encounters with God. What you focus on, you empower. And when you expect to have encounters with God. That is what will happen. Do you expect it? Do you believe God wants to reveal Himself to you? God wants to commune with you, do you believe that? You see, the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the currency used in heaven. Believe and have an expectant heart.

Communication with God

. You do not need to have a formula, say what is in your heart. That is all He wants from you. You are His child and for you to approach Him you do not need to have a formula or checklist. Just as you are run to your Father. Listen. This you can only do through your spiritual senses, which sharpen the more you exercise them by spending time with God. It might not be instant, but if you press in, I promise you you will hear Him speak. Just because you cannot hear God does not mean He is not speaking to you. Intentionally quieting your soul is vital in our communion with God. God is Spirit and the only way we can interact with Him is through our Spirit and that is why our spiritual senses need to be activated.

Your interaction with God could be as simple as asking Him what He would want you to listen to when looking for an answer to a problem. It could be journaling your day as though you are writing a letter to Him. It could even be as simple as saying hello to Him as you do your normal day-to-day stuff. Including God in the mundane will lead to an amazing relationship with Him and you will never feel alone or be lonely because you will always know He is there. He will never leave you and always knows that you can trust Him. He will never disappoint you, and His thoughts for you are pure. Are you ready for that beautiful moment-to-moment encounter with God? You can start now. What are you waiting for?

Conclusion

God does not want you to wait until you get to heaven to have encounters with Him. He wants you to experience them while you are still here on earth. He is always beckoning for you to come to Him. Will you? Don’t wait until you have your act together. Start where you are and come to Him as you are. He is waiting for you with arms wide open. Make time for God. Jesus wants to listen to your story and reveal to you who God is. The Holy Spirit wants to give you a revelation of who God is. This revelation will give you your identity and help you embrace your authentic self. Encounters with God will transform you and lead you to live authentically and reinvent yourself. You will not remain the same when you encounter God. Don’t delay. He is calling you and inviting you in.