A Life Changing Encounter
Spiritual Disciplines 11
Every one of us is born with a hunger in our heart for something more. Trying to figure out what that something is leads many people down paths of self-destruction, anger, and isolation. The world is full of people who are searching for that "something" that will bring lasting peace and contentment to their soul. They search bars, clubs, websites, and even churches. They try smoking, drinking, immorality, shopping, and eating in order to fill this longing in their hearts. But none of these things or places will bring the constant satisfaction that they are seeking. None of them.
There is only One who can give us peace in our heart.
That One is Jesus and even many church going folks miss out on having a life changing encounter with Him because the reputation of Christianity has been distorted by lies, half-truths, and rigid laws. And even though going to church is a good thing, one 30-40 minute sermon a week does not give us enough nourishment to live on for a whole week.
The key to finding peace lies in us finding and connecting with Jesus Christ.
Prayer is that key.
One of the most beautiful passages about prayer in the Bible can be found in the book of Exodus when Moses pitches a tent to meed with God.
Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.
Exodus 33:7 NKJV
Moses took his tent outside of the camp to separate it from the sin of the people. They had just been chastised for having Aaron build them an idol in the form of a golden calf. Moses purposefully put distance between the tent where he would meet with God and the people.
We also must have a separate place to meet with God. We used to call them "prayer closets" but all they were and all they are is a private place where you can be alone with Jesus. It is not always feasible to have one room designated only for prayer but still we all need a place we can go so we can be alone with God.
For momma's with small children it may be the living room when the kids are asleep either for a nap or for the night. For a working parent it can be in the car on your daily commute or your lunch break. You can use a bathroom stall, a park bench, or a walk around the block. Where you go to find this time alone is not as important as actually spending the time alone with God.
Location is not as important as your attitude and expectation.
I didn't grow up going to church and I had no understanding about the ways of God. But when I decided to get serious about my relationship with Jesus, I began to seek Him in the quiet hours of the morning before my kids got up. I would lay face down on the floor and spread my arms out. I had heard someone say they got on their face before the Lord so I set out to meet with God like that too. I remember laying there asking, "Ok, God, now what?"
In those first meetings with God I didn't know what to say so I would lay there listening for God. My heart would search for Him and everyday without fail, the Holy Spirit would show up and spend some time with me. I approached those times with the expectation of having an encounter with God and that is exactly what I got.
You can connect with God anywhere but there is something supernatural that happens when we get alone and actually seek God.
Psalm 46 tells us to be still in His presence. We don't always have to talk. All we have to do is show up and respond to God's presence. This is the essence of prayer.
Prayer is the conduit for a life changing encounter with God.
Live your life with God first.
Heidirn
Every one of us is born with a hunger in our heart for something more. Trying to figure out what that something is leads many people down paths of self-destruction, anger, and isolation. The world is full of people who are searching for that "something" that will bring lasting peace and contentment to their soul. They search bars, clubs, websites, and even churches. They try smoking, drinking, immorality, shopping, and eating in order to fill this longing in their hearts. But none of these things or places will bring the constant satisfaction that they are seeking. None of them.
There is only One who can give us peace in our heart.
That One is Jesus and even many church going folks miss out on having a life changing encounter with Him because the reputation of Christianity has been distorted by lies, half-truths, and rigid laws. And even though going to church is a good thing, one 30-40 minute sermon a week does not give us enough nourishment to live on for a whole week.
The key to finding peace lies in us finding and connecting with Jesus Christ.
Prayer is that key.
One of the most beautiful passages about prayer in the Bible can be found in the book of Exodus when Moses pitches a tent to meed with God.
Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.
Exodus 33:7 NKJV
Moses took his tent outside of the camp to separate it from the sin of the people. They had just been chastised for having Aaron build them an idol in the form of a golden calf. Moses purposefully put distance between the tent where he would meet with God and the people.
We also must have a separate place to meet with God. We used to call them "prayer closets" but all they were and all they are is a private place where you can be alone with Jesus. It is not always feasible to have one room designated only for prayer but still we all need a place we can go so we can be alone with God.
For momma's with small children it may be the living room when the kids are asleep either for a nap or for the night. For a working parent it can be in the car on your daily commute or your lunch break. You can use a bathroom stall, a park bench, or a walk around the block. Where you go to find this time alone is not as important as actually spending the time alone with God.
Location is not as important as your attitude and expectation.
I didn't grow up going to church and I had no understanding about the ways of God. But when I decided to get serious about my relationship with Jesus, I began to seek Him in the quiet hours of the morning before my kids got up. I would lay face down on the floor and spread my arms out. I had heard someone say they got on their face before the Lord so I set out to meet with God like that too. I remember laying there asking, "Ok, God, now what?"
In those first meetings with God I didn't know what to say so I would lay there listening for God. My heart would search for Him and everyday without fail, the Holy Spirit would show up and spend some time with me. I approached those times with the expectation of having an encounter with God and that is exactly what I got.
You can connect with God anywhere but there is something supernatural that happens when we get alone and actually seek God.
Psalm 46 tells us to be still in His presence. We don't always have to talk. All we have to do is show up and respond to God's presence. This is the essence of prayer.
Prayer is the conduit for a life changing encounter with God.
Live your life with God first.
Heidirn
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