Run Ins With God…

I ought to pray that I can run into God as many times as possible…so that what happens in the earth can be influenced by what’s happening in Heaven!

The Lord’s prayer (Mat 6) directs us to pray that His Kingdom would come, and His will would be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. In considering this reality, I find myself evaluating what my posture should be when I pray. I ought to pray that I can run into God as many times as possible and get a glimpse of His Heavenly perspective so that what happens in the earth can be influenced by what’s happening in Heaven! Don’t you desire that?

How can we have a run ins with God?

There are numerous ways God interrupts our lives in order to infuse His perspective on things but it doesn’t have to be that way all the time. We can intentionally set up our run-ins with Him. Here’s how:

Dreams and visions – Acts 2, Joel 2 – These should be a common and regular occurrence if we’re to impact the world around. I often have dreams that warn me of impending danger or reveal what the future holds for me and others. This very word I am writing about came to me in the middle of the night, when I was awoken from a dream.

Visitations of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2, 9, 10; Matthew 4 – He must be living and active among us. When Holy Spirit pays us a special visit, it is likely because we need His empowerment for the next day, next season, next moment with God.

Prophetic words, moments, and meetings – 1 Timothy 1:18-19, 2 Timothy 1:6 – We receive from what and who we value. Modern day prophets are constantly trumpeting the Word and intent of God. It is a special office designed to create the atmosphere necessary for people to have encounters with God. I have had several life altering moments in prophetic meetings. The key is to recognize God’s voice speaking through the vessel and not get hang up on the vessel.

“Modern day prophets are constantly trumpeting the Word and intent of God.”

Prayer and fellowship – Acts 2, Daniel 2:19 – There’s nothing more powerful than the prayer life of a believer. I have had many moments when I’ve been lost in God’s presence, on my own, praying, and had major revelations that have transformed the course of my life. One major decision I made – to teach high school students at a church school – came out of a private moment of prayer. God spoke clearly and I answered. I have never regretted that decision.

When we worship Him – 2 Chronicles 7:10-14 – Worship is our way of offering a sacrifice to God. When Solomon dedicated the Jerusalem temple, he immediately went into worship and out of that the words uttered in the scripture above were produced. When we worship Him, we turn and forsake all others, if only for that brief moment, it speaks to God’s heart. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in John 4 that God was after true worshippers who would worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Such is the acceptable worship that brings God pleasure. As a father, I love when my children desire fellowship with me and I can’t help but fellowship with them as well. Our Heavenly Father desires the same and in moments of worship we fellowship with Him and He can’t help but draw us in for an encounter with Him.

As we serve – Joshua 5:13, Luke 1 (Zechariah) – I love the story of Zechariah. We’re not sure if he was earnestly seeking this encounter with God. All we know is that he was serving, going about his business, when God interrupted everything and began to speak to him then shut his mouth. Be careful what God says to you as you ‘go about your business’ because I suspect the reason Zechariah’s mouth was shut was because we tend to take these types of words from God lightly. We tend to doubt them and we may be tempted to rationalize our way out of them since they were not received in a ‘deep’ traditional way.

There’s nothing more powerful than the prayer life of a believer.

I long for run-ins with God to be the story of my life, don’t you?