* What does a genuine encounter with Jesus feel like?

What does a genuine encounter with Jesus feel like, not just a theoretical understanding or intellectual acceptance, but a visceral, transformative experience? I’m curious about the range of emotions and sensations people have reported – from overwhelming joy and peace to a profound sense of conviction or even grief and repentance. Are there common threads that weave through these experiences, despite individual differences in personality and background? And how can one differentiate a true encounter with Jesus from a powerful emotional experience or psychological phenomenon? I’m interested in hearing both anecdotal accounts and theological perspectives on this.

Answer

A genuine encounter with Jesus can manifest in a deeply personal and varied range of experiences, often characterized by:

• Overwhelming Love and Acceptance: A sense of being completely and unconditionally loved, accepted, and cherished despite imperfections or past mistakes. This can be a profound and transformative experience, leading to a feeling of worthiness and belonging.

• Profound Peace and Serenity: A deep and abiding sense of peace that transcends understanding, even amidst challenging circumstances. This peace can calm anxieties, quiet inner turmoil, and bring a sense of stillness and assurance.

• Conviction of Sin and Repentance: A heightened awareness of personal shortcomings, sins, and need for forgiveness. This conviction is not necessarily accompanied by condemnation but rather a gentle prompting towards repentance and a desire to turn away from harmful behaviors.

• Transformation of Character: A gradual but noticeable shift in thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors towards greater Christ-likeness. This can manifest as increased compassion, empathy, patience, kindness, and a desire to serve others.

• Burning Desire to Know Him More: An insatiable hunger to learn more about Jesus, His teachings, and His character. This can lead to a deeper engagement with scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

• Sense of Purpose and Calling: A clearer understanding of one’s unique gifts, talents, and purpose in life. This can lead to a renewed sense of meaning and direction, as well as a desire to use one’s abilities to serve God and others.

• Supernatural Encounters: These can include visions, dreams, hearing God’s voice (either audibly or inwardly), or experiencing miraculous healings or interventions. These encounters are often deeply personal and can serve as powerful confirmations of faith.

• Increased Joy and Hope: A profound sense of joy that is not dependent on circumstances but rather rooted in the assurance of God’s love and presence. This joy can be accompanied by an unshakeable hope for the future, both in this life and in eternity.

• Empowerment to Overcome Challenges: A renewed strength and courage to face difficulties, temptations, and fears. This empowerment comes from the Holy Spirit and enables believers to live lives of victory and purpose.

• Deepened Compassion for Others: A heightened awareness of the suffering and needs of others, coupled with a desire to alleviate their pain and share the love of Christ with them.

• Intense Awareness of God’s Presence: A tangible sense of God’s nearness and involvement in one’s life. This can manifest as a feeling of being surrounded by His love, guidance, and protection.

• Clarity of Spiritual Truth: A sudden or gradual understanding of previously confusing or complex spiritual concepts. This clarity can bring a sense of liberation and freedom from doubt.

• Radical Forgiveness: An ability to forgive others, even those who have caused significant pain or harm. This forgiveness is not dependent on the other person’s repentance but rather flows from the grace and love of God.

It is important to recognize that not every encounter will be the same, and the intensity of the experience can vary. The key is the genuine transformation and the lasting impact on one’s life, marked by a deeper love for God and a commitment to following Jesus.

Pray This Prayer

Heavenly Father,

My heart aches with a longing to truly know Your Son, Jesus. I yearn to experience Him, not just as a historical figure or a set of doctrines, but as a living, breathing presence in my life.

I ask you, Lord, to guide me toward a genuine encounter with Jesus. Peel back the layers of my doubt, my fear, and my preconceived notions. Open my eyes to see Him, my ears to hear Him, and my heart to truly feel Him.

And as I seek this encounter, I wonder: What does a genuine encounter with Jesus feel like?

Will it be a sudden rush of warmth and light, flooding my soul with peace? Will it be a quiet whisper in the stillness, a gentle prompting that leads me down the right path? Will it be a deep conviction, a certainty that settles in my bones and changes the very fabric of my being?

Will I feel comforted and consoled, knowing I am held in His loving embrace? Will I feel challenged and convicted, spurred to grow and to live a life more worthy of His sacrifice? Will I feel empowered and emboldened, ready to share His love and grace with the world?

Whatever form it takes, Lord, I pray that a genuine encounter with Jesus will leave me transformed. May it fill me with a deeper understanding of Your love, a greater compassion for my fellow humans, and an unwavering commitment to follow Him.

Help me to be open to the unexpected, to listen for His voice in the ordinary, and to recognize His presence in the faces of those I meet. Prepare my heart to receive Him, and grant me the courage to live out the truth of that encounter in every aspect of my life.

Thank you, Lord, for the promise of Your presence. I trust in Your timing and Your grace.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.