Encounter - Introduction

What does it mean to encounter God? One dictionary defines encounter as “to meet with.” For many the idea of meeting with God is scary, maybe difficult to imagine; or perhaps something that is mysterious or seems out of reach. However, an amazing characteristic of God is that He is intensely personal and wants each person to know Him. In truth, each and every day God wants us to encounter Him.

The Bible is filled with stories about God’s relationship to men and women and his desire for each person to experience Him in a personal way. Consider when Moses encounters God through a burning bush (Exodus 3), a bush he may have seen a hundred times before, but this time it was different. The bush was on fire with the presence of God. Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight...” The passage states that when God saw Moses turn aside to look at the bush, God called out to Moses, and in doing so initiated relationship with him. When Moses interrupted his routine to pay attention, he encountered God. This began a life long journey of Moses living in relationship with God.

The good news that Jesus shared is that now it is possible for men and women to live in the presence and power of God. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus: His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus has opened the door so that all who place their trust in Him may have a relationship with God. Being a follower of Christ means that we are experiencing and living in response to God’s loving presence and power in our life.

So, how do we encounter God? Like Moses, we must interrupt our schedule, turn aside, and open ourselves to God’s presence. His presence is always with us, but many times we are unaware of Him or how He is working in our lives. To encounter God, as in any relationship, we must spend time with Him. We do this by engaging in practices that create space for us to listen to Him, focus upon Him and respond to Him. Through the ‘Encounter’ series we will look at different ways to encounter God through the Bible, prayer, community and fasting. It is our hope for you that through these opportunities to encounter God, you will build a lasting relationship with Him and continually experience His grace in your lives.


How To Use The 30-Day Encounter Guide

This 30-day guide is about creating space each day to look for God’s presence, spend time listening to Him and responding to Him. Plan to spend fifteen or more minutes each day reading the passages and journaling about your experiences.


Tips On Preparing For Your Encounter

Time:  Select a specific time; early morning, break during work, lunch with God, etc.
Location:  Try to find a place with limited distractions.
Tools:  Bring the following: Bible, 30-day guide, journal, and pen.
Attitude:  Expect God to meet with you!


What if you miss a day?

Don’t worry about the missed day. You can make it up if you want, but don’t let it keep you from completing 30 days. Don’t give up—move on to the next day. Look forward to your next encounter with God.


Journaling

Each day we would like you to write down how you are experiencing God and what you are getting out of the reading. A journal can be a very helpful tool in teaching us to listen to God, see His presence and how we have responded to Him. 

Here are a few suggestions on keeping a journal, but know that there is no one right way to journal. Feel free to create your own style and adapt journaling to your needs. We suggest three sections:

Review:  Spend a few moments reviewing how you have encountered God since your last journal entry. How has God’s presence and power been evident in your life? How did you respond to Him? Has anything hindered your ability to encounter Him?

Read:  Each day you will be given a passage from the Bible to read. Begin with prayer and then read the passage. Consider reading the passage several times, pausing between each reading, until you start to picture it in your mind. Remember, the goal is to allow God to speak to you and allow you to know Him better. After reading and thinking about the passage, take time to write a summary of the experience.

Respond:  Take time to respond back to God. Tell God what stood out to you, what you are feeling, or what you would like remember from the passage. Consider writing out your response as a prayer to God.


Sample Journal Entry:

Review:  January 16, 6:15am
Since yesterday, I have been aware of how often I speak about myself. I have been really challenged about the passage on humility—I have a long way to go. Last night I resisted defending myself and it felt good. God, thank you for your strength and the reminder that I don’t need to defend myself.

Read:  Psalms 139:1-18
God knows me! All of me, even my thoughts. I can’t hide from God, as He is always with me. It is intimidating to think that He knows ALL, but so comforting to know that He does and still loves me.

Respond:
God, I feel loved, and also very vulnerable. I don’t know why it bothers me that I can’t keep secrets from you. I do find peace in knowing that nothing is hidden and you still love me. I look at my life and struggle to see how you have been with me in the bad times, but take comfort knowing that you are with me. I am amazed at your love, help me to rest in it and quit worrying about whether or not you accept me.