Our relationship with God is not meant only to know Him but also to experience Him in our lives. David wrote in Psalm 34:8-14, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." When David wrote, "Taste and see that the Lord is good," he meant that we could practically sense His presence in our lives through the sufferings that we go through. For example, have we experienced God's presence in our lives when we went through difficulties in the past? The reason I have confidence in God today is because I have experienced His goodness in the past. I experienced His provision, love, forgiveness, healing, guidance, discipline, correction, and protection.
David experienced God's goodness and provision; as a result, he encouraged and taught his children to fear or honor the Lord. He encouraged them to protect their tongues from lies, turn from evil, do good, and seek and pursue peace if they desire to see many good days in their lives. God is encouraging us today to do the same. If we want to have a good life, we need to honor God in everything that we do. God's ways are not the same as this world. This world seeks a good life through material possessions and self-indulgence, but we seek a good life by living for God.
God is real, and He is meant to be experienced, not just to know about. To experience God is to honor Him in everything that we do and trust Him in every area of our lives. Today, we have the wonderful opportunity to experience Him. Let us honor and trust God today.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). Have I experienced God's goodness in my life in the past? How did I experience God in the past? What should I do to experience God today?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you that you are real in my life. You are not only teaching me about who you are, but you want me to experience your goodness. Please help me to honor you in everything that I do and trust you in every area of my life. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.