How to prepare to encounter God

When people who have a strong desire to be closer to God…to know Him better…are seeking Him in earnest, God will sometimes choose to reveal Himself in unusual ways. There are many reports of people who have had special dreams where Jesus revealed Himself, even to people from different religions who had no knowledge of the One true God.

Likewise, there are many reports of people who were critically ill in hospital, when Jesus appeared to them in their hospital room and healed them. You can find some of these testimonies in YouTube videos.

Often when the Lord is calling someone to a particular task or ministry role, He will make Himself known and speak to them about what He wants them to do. He may reveal Himself in various ways, through dreams, or visions, or a prophetic word to their own heart, or through someone else. The common factor will be that the revelation is unmistakably God revealing Himself to man.

Some of the examples I’ve mentioned, show that God revealed Himself to people who didn’t even know Him, but many times it’s those who are earnestly seeking to whom He reveals Himself.

The Bible tells us: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”. – Jeremiah 29:13

Usually, when people are seeking to have an encounter with God, they will be earnestly praying, reading the Bible and worshipping over a lengthy period in their life.

However, there are a few keys that may help you in your time of seeking. Everyone is different, so I am just sharing from my own experience.

First of all, you need to set aside time. If you wish to meet with God in a powerful encounter, you will be praying until time no longer matters. This doesn’t necessarily mean you will spend hours in prayer, but just that your focus will be on the Lord and not on any earthly thing.

In seeking God there is no need for striving. We are encouraged to ‘come boldly before the throne of grace in prayer’. Knowing that God is our heavenly Father, and we are welcome in His Presence, we can come before Him with love and gratitude in our hearts to worship Him and know that He will receive us gladly.

Find a comfortable place to sit, where you are alone and will not be distracted by others walking through the room. Relax. Smile. Think what a pleasure it is to come to your Father and have His undivided attention.

Depending on your personality and preference, you may start by reading the Bible, by listening to worship music, by quietly singing worship songs, or just speaking words of love and worship to the Lord. The objective is to become very still inwardly.

This is not the time for other types of prayer or intercession. It is time for the soul to be still and listen. If distracting thoughts interfere, command them to be still in Jesus’ Name.

Tell the Lord how you love Him, how you want to know Him so much better. Reaffirm your willingness to yield to His will, and your desire to please Him in all you do. If you have a particular problem or are seeking His wisdom and guidance, tell Him so, but with trust and thanksgiving, not with desperation.

He is here for you – always. He wants to hear what’s on your heart (though He knows it already, He wants you to tell Him). He wants you to know that He loves you and cares about the things that concern you more than you could ever imagine.

Let the presence of God settle over you. He lives in your spirit and His presence surrounds you and fills you. There may be a heightened awareness throughout your whole being.

Maybe you will feel a desire to pray in the Spirit, or the Holy Spirit will bring a certain song to mind. Afterwards you will realise that the song actually spoke to your need. Perhaps you will picture something heavenly – entering the throne room or walking in the courts of heaven with angels. Accept what you see – don’t tell yourself you’re just imagining it, as long as your heart is yielded to Him.

By this time, you will be communicating with the Lord, Spirit to spirit. Be still. Listen to His voice if He is speaking to you. Earthly things are laid aside. Self-will is laid aside. Time is of no consequence. You are standing in the holy place. Tread softly. Value every moment whether you hear His voice or not.

You will instinctively know when this prayer/waiting time has ended. Don’t open your eyes or move away too quickly. Savour the moment. You have had an encounter with God. There will be other encounters, when He may speak to you prophetically or show you something in a vision, but the good news is – you have met with God.