Experiencing Jesus: Word and Presence Hand in Hand

Why is there such a frenzy — either in longing to experience Jesus or in opposing the idea entirely? When you have a person in front of you, you encounter them in many ways: through touch, through scent, through sound, through presence. Why then, when we believe in the person of Jesus, do we not expect Him to meet us in the same way — personally, tangibly, unmistakably?

Jesus is not a fairy tale or a nice thought. He is a real person, and not just any person — He is part of the Godhead. Experiences with Him are not empty emotions; they push us closer to Him, much like repeated connections between people form new pathways in our brains. The more we experience Him, the more our hearts are wired toward Him.

It is so important that the Word of God is our foundation. Without it, everything else will crumble. But even with that truth, many take it no farther. They may sprinkle prayers here and there or keep a prayer list they nail to the gates of heaven every day.

Like Mark Virkler has said, “Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue.” And prayer, almost instantly — when our motives are right — puts us right in the middle of the Lord’s throne room. Communication is the key to any relationship.

Loving the Bible is necessary before desiring an experience with the Lord. It is the guardrail that keeps us from getting off track. The Lord gives us free will, but He may also give us pricks along the way. We just need to receive them instead of kicking against them.

Walking in the Word and experience can and should be done at the same time. I recommend having an elder or mentor disciple you in this.

So, how do we experience God? Through an authentic relationship with Him. Yes — by reading your Bible. Yes — by praying. Yes — by worship. But when love is at the center, these things won’t feel like chores. We will do them because we love Him.

Just as intimacy is crucial for a healthy marriage, intimacy is crucial for our relationship with Jesus. Without personal experiences of Him, it’s like a marriage without closeness — it will end in divorce or grow sour.

Experiencing Him can be as simple as inviting Him to be with you in the room. Yes, He’s already everywhere and in your heart, but He is a Gentleman. We can’t just open the Bible on our own and expect to understand everything. We need the Holy Spirit to help us grasp what He is saying.

When we invite Him in — or better yet, become aware that He is already there — our hearts open to truly experience Him. Yes, there are outliers, moments when God breaks in without us asking. But that is the exception, not the rule. When He does it, it’s often to wake us up. Sometimes it’s like a breadcrumb trail meant to lead us into a deeper walk with Him.

And that’s the point — He doesn’t just want to give us breadcrumbs. He wants to give us the feast of Himself. But that comes when we hold both the Bible and experience together — truth and encounter, hand in hand. One guards us from deception, the other keeps our love alive.

So, let’s not settle for a faith that is all head and no heart, or all emotion with no truth. Let’s seek Him in His Word, welcome Him into our moments, and walk with Him daily. When we do, we’ll discover that the throne room is never far away — it’s as close as our next breath.