15 Days of Supernatural EncountersSample

Day 2: Personal Encounters with Jesus

Know:

Since the beginning of creation, God has always appeared in person to His people. For example:

• He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day.
• He appeared over and over to Abraham–yes, in person.
• He visibly appeared to Moses, standing at the door of Moses’ tent to talk with him “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

And Jesus told us that it is still His will to appear to us–to encounter us in person.

In John 14:21, Jesus said, “‘He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’”

Are you hungry for these kinds of personal encounters with Jesus? More than hungry; are you lovesick for Him? Do you desire to know Him in this way? Do you yearn to see His face?

And more importantly, do you keep His commandments, so that He can fulfill this promise and manifest Himself to you?

If you don’t keep His commandments yet, don't beat yourself up. Jesus doesn’t beat you up! Instead, Jesus uses questions like this to bring you awareness of the state of your own heart.

In John 15:4-5, Jesus spoke these encouraging words: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

If you do not yet keep Jesus’ commandments, He will help you begin today … if you want to! 

Without Him, you can do nothing. But when you make your life all about Him, finding your life in Him, then you will bear much fruit. He will help you so much.

Keeping His commandments will be a growing process. You won’t be perfect at it right away, but you will learn and grow as fast as you set your mind to do. And the whole time, you will grow closer and closer to Him.

Also, know that you cannot do it on your own; the only way you can do it is to keep your eyes on Jesus, and He will draw you so close to Himself that you won't want to disobey Him anymore.

When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will lose your appetite for anything that makes Him sad.

You will look on the face of the One that you love, and you will become so wasted with love for Him that no one, and nothing, but Him will matter.

When you decide to walk with Him, keep your eyes on Him, and live for Him in all your choices, then you can experience the fullness of all His promises–including His promises to manifest Himself to you in person. You will draw close to Him like this, even as you grow–and even if you make mistakes!

Do you want this?

Pray:

“Father God, in Jesus’ name, I desire to see You. I want to see Jesus. I want to see Your glory and Your face.

Lord Jesus, I know that I need to become obedient to You and keep Your commandments in order to be close to You like that. So please help me. Please draw me close to You, and help me to keep my eyes on Jesus.

And Jesus, please show me Your glory. Even as I learn and grow, please manifest Yourself to me personally. I want to look on Your face, for I love you. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Listen:

If you're streaming your favorite music service, listen to "Show Me Your Glory" by Jesus Culture, featuring Kim Walker-Smith. This song is the cry of my heart, and I believe it will be yours too. Pray through this song as you listen!