What is the key to experiencing God?

TL;DR:

We start to experience God at the moment of salvation in which the Holy Spirit dwells within us. While we can seek God’s presence through spiritual disciplines in this life, we won’t fully experience His presence until we are in heaven.

what does the bible say?

God’s presence is powerful. In Psalm 114:7, David instructs the earth itself to tremble at it. God’s presence is so powerful that no one has fully experienced it on this side of the universe (Exodus 33:18-23), not even Moses who was said to have conversed with God “as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Creation itself is God’s handiwork (Psalm 8:3-4) and we can experience God, in a sense, by acknowledging His glory displayed in His creation. We can also pursue God’s presence through bringing Him glory by singing, thanksgiving, and praise (Psalm 100:1-4) and even being still and acknowledging God for who He is (Psalm 46:10). A profound way in which we experience God is through His Holy Spirit dwelling within us when we become believers (John 14:26). Not only do we have the Holy Spirit when we become God’s children, but we are granted access to draw near to Him in freedom (Hebrews 10:19-23; James 4:8). Ultimately, we experience God within our personal relationship with Him, because we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

from the old testament

God’s presence can be overwhelming, so He only shows us the small parts of Him that we are capable of handling. Exodus 33:11 tells us that "the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Later, Moses asks to see the glory of the Lord, but God could only give him a partial view, because "man shall not see me and live" (Exodus 33:18-23).
We experience God in His beautiful creation: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)
One way we can experience God’s presence is by glorifying Him with singing, thanksgiving, and praise (Psalm 100:1-4). Sometimes we glorify God even by being still before Him: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10).
The earth itself trembles at God's presence: "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 114:7).

from the new testament

The Holy Spirit inhabits us when we receive Christ. Jesus said to His disciples, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).
We come to know the Lord by following the truths He has revealed about Himself in His Word: “ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). Some people claim to follow Christ, but do not respect what He has revealed to us in Scripture, showing that they “never knew” Him (Matthew 7:23). The writer of Hebrews reveals that, through Jesus’ blood, we can “draw near” to God(Hebrews 10:22).
James 4:8 says: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." When we seek God’s presence through biblical means, we can know that He will respond to us.

implications for today

How can we truly experience God? Jesus came to earth as God incarnate and was crucified in order to make provision for permanent forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7). When we put our faith in Him, we experience eternal forgiveness and receive the gift of salvation. We also experience the Lord’s presence through the Holy Spirit, and His love and care for us through God the Father (1 John 4:8). Additionally, the Holy Spirit gives us the understanding to grasp that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). When we are submitted to the lordship of Christ, we get to experience the other blessings of God and facets of His character. God has provided the opportunity for us to approach Him, know Him, and experience His presence. When we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13; Matthew 7:7-8).

understand

We can draw closer to God through the blood of Christ when we accept Him as Savior.
When we put our faith in Christ, we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, which helps us to experience God’s presence.
Believers will not fully experience God until we are in heaven.

reflect

What spiritual disciplines have helped you draw closer to God?
How does the beauty of creation impact your experience of God?
How is your faith impacted by knowing you will one day fully experience the Lord in heaven?

engage

How can the beauty of creation be used in witnessing to unbelievers about God?
What role can personal experiences of God’s presence in believers’ lives play in gospel outreach efforts? What are some cautions we should have to that approach?
What role does corporate worship play in experiencing God?