Continuing to Experience God
Memory verse: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. And all the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Two persons were walking together on their way to Emmaus, a town roughly seven miles from Jerusalem (see Luke 24:13-35). They were discouraged. They had chosen to follow Jesus, and they had been excited about all He had done and taught. Then Jesus had been cruelly taken from them. Now they were bewildered, not knowing what to do next. Suddenly a stranger joined them and asked what they were talking about. They explained what had happened and that they could no longer follow Jesus as they had intended. Over the next few miles the stranger explained to them that the events surrounding Jesus’ death were not the end but the beginning of an exciting new opportunity to walk daily with the Son of God. Rather than being taken from them, Jesus was now closer to them than they could have imagined!
Many people who study Experiencing God feel a letdown when they finish the course and stop meeting regularly with their small group. Many say that they hated coming to the end of the course because they feared their Christian life might go back to the way it was before. Let me encourage you by saying that this does not need to be the case. Your encounter with Christ through this material has not been an end but a beginning. I pray God has shown you how you can experience a love relationship with Him that is real and fresh every day. I trust that you have been challenged to watch to see where God is at work and then to join Him. I hope you have made the adjustments in your life that God has asked for and are now obeying everything He has told you to do. But all of this is only the beginning! God wants you to know and experience more of Him. He wants you to understand new truths that will set you free (see John 8:32). There is far more of God’s nature, His purposes, and His ways that He wants to reveal to you. This course should be only the starting point for a whole new adventure in following Christ daily.
Consider adopting a few practices that will help you to continue going deeper with your Lord.
Stay immersed in God’s Word. Remember God’s instruction to Joshua: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Josh. 1:8). Make it your habit to read God’s Word daily. God has many more truths to reveal to you if you will give Him the opportunity.
Remain intimately involved with a church family that will love and nurture you. Hebrews urges us: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews. 10:25). God made us interdependent on one another. You cannot experience all God has for you apart from the rest of the body of Christ.
Pray regularly. Scripture indicates that Daniel made it a habit to pray three times daily (see Dan. 6:10). As a result, he had a powerful prayer life in which God spoke to him and answered him the moment he began praying (see Dan. 9:23). One of the best ways to prevent your heart from growing cold is to regularly talk with God.
Strive to keep your vows to God. Ecclesiastes warns, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it” (Ecclesiastes. 5:4-5). Throughout this course God has spoken to you. You may have made several commitments to Him in response. Remember that God takes our promises to Him extremely seriously. God is not mocked. Be diligent to follow through with everything you promised God you would do. Remember, a good intention is not the same as obedience. There are no substitutes for obedience!
Take time to process what God has said to you or done in your life through this course. God may have spoken to you many times over the past weeks. If you do not let this material soak into your heart and life, however, it may be like the seed that fell on stony ground and was soon taken away (see Matt. 13:20-21). Processing God’s Word means allowing God to explain and apply all He has said to you. It is not enough to agree with what God said in your mind. You must also apply God’s Word in your heart and life.
Final Thought
We are so glad you chose to take part in this small group and to read these devotions until the end. We trust that God will honor your faithfulness and will bring you into an ever-deepening walk with Him as you continue to experience God.