Experiencing God - Blackaby

One of the most beneficial studies in my walk with Christ has been "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby.

This fall I will be leading a small group study in my home through this material. If you have ever wondered whether or not you can discern God's will, hear God's voice, or if God still speaks to His people today - this study will benefit you greatly.

Let's look at the 7 realities of Experiencing God as stated by Blackaby.

1) God is always at work around you.
I'm glad that this is number one because we need to open our eyes to the reality that God still works in the world. The problem is that too often we miss His activity.

2) God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
Can I really add anything to that statement?

3) God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
Too often we think that God wants us to find something to do for Him. On the contrary, God wants us to get involved with what He is already doing.

4) God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
That's right folks - God still speaks to us today by His Holy Spirit. We must learn that we can hear His voice and how He speaks to His followers.

5) God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
Oh the dreaded crisis of belief. Did God really say that? Does God really want me to go...? Does God really want me to say...? We will look at biblical accounts of those who faced this crisis, as well as some contemporary stories.

6) You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
Another statement that speaks for itself!

7) You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.
Do not be content to learn about God through study alone. This reality will lead us into the realm of experience. When experience and knowledge come together, your view of God is greatly enhanced.

This study truly moves believers from hearers to doers. Once we begin to recognize God's voice there is no way that we can sit idly by without joining Him in His work. I believe that one of the greatest reasons churches find little things to squabble over is because the majority of people that sit in our sanctuaries are not experiencing God on a daily basis. Our ears have been turned off to His voice and our hearts have been hardened to His will.

I hope that your eyes will be open today to His activity. I pray that your ears will be receptive to His voice. Once that happens I believe that you will follow hard after Him. I promise you that the chase is worth it!