Experiencing God-2 - Wednesday September 21, 2011
O taste and see that the Lord is good ... Psalm 34:8
My husband, an avid bird lover, has been enthralled lately with the unusual sight of some Cooper's Hawks nesting in our neighbor's tree. Mike keeps abreast of all the activity, looking for signs of fledgling birds. His enthusiasm has pulled me into the vigil, and his focus has become my personal experience. With binoculars in hand, we don't focus on ourselves (how absurd)! We focus on the birds.
Similarly, to experience God, we focus on Him: who He is, what He is doing, and what He has promised. Any experience begins with personal perception. You might experience good feelings as an end result, but feelings are neither the beginning point nor the goal. If you want to visually perceive something, you focus your eyes on the object. Likewise, you can't experience God if your focus is on whether or not you've had an experience. To experience God, don't chase an experience! Rather look at His character and His promises.
Sometimes we want to experience God, but stay focused on our own lack. Constant desperation to experience God can be rooted in fear-never sure if we've experienced God enough or in the way we think we should. This inward focus, based on fear, is not a very pleasant "experience"! But when we make God the focus, we taste and see Him. For example, through eyes of faith I see that the Lord is good. His goodness is the focus.
Look at God with me today. Get out the binoculars and turn them toward Him. Focus on His attributes. O taste and see that the Lord is good! I'm enjoying the experience, yes, but it's because I'm enjoying Him!
Submitted by:
Rita Bergen
Lee's Summit Community Church
Lee's Summit, Missouri
One-Year Reading Plan:
Isaiah 37:1-38:22
Galatians 6:1-18
Psalms 65:1-13
Proverbs 23:24
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