How You Can Taste God—Here’s 5 Delightful Ways
What if I tell you that your taste of God will conform the way you see Him?
Okay. I’m not making this up.
Consider this invitation...
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)
In this verse we are invited to taste the Lord. By doing that, we see that the Lord is good.
But how can we taste the Lord?
Before I get to that, let me tell you that I had to go to a dictionary and find the meaning of taste.
From all the possible definitions, this one was the one that most struck me in relation to this verse: “to taste is to experience the flavor of something.”
Have you ever gone to a wine tasting?
In a wine tasting you are given a few samples of wines for you to taste. As you taste them, someone is sharing with you different ways to better experience the flavors, the ingredients, and the aroma.
Note how tasting is tied to a personal experience.
In the same way, the invitation to taste the Lord is a personal invitation to experience Him.
The beauty of this verse not only lies in God wanting you to experience Him. It also shows you God wanting to personally engage with you in your daily walk so that you can see His goodness and blessing in your life.
So here are 5 ways how you can taste the Lord:
Desire God’s Word
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. (Jeremiah 15:16)
All these passages have something in common. We are called to crave and consume God’s word.
Throughout the Scriptures we not only find knowledge and wisdom, but the very nourishment for our life and spiritual growth.
Desiring the Lord’s words is about daily sustenance. Desiring God’s Word is pleasing, and brings joy and delight.
Desire God’s Presence
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8)
4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. (Psalm 27:4,8)
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)
Desiring God’s presence starts by inviting Him into our heart. And then continues by welcoming Him in our day-to-day.
When we make space in our busy lives to praise and worship God for who He is, no matter our changing circumstances but because of His love and faithfulness, we can taste the delight of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we poured out our self, for His in-filling.
To desire the Lord’s presence is to cling to Him, to seek His face, to long for His very presence to quench our soul. Desiring God’s presence leads us to many sacred moments. Moments when we are embraced by His love, sustained by His hand, and led by His Spirit.
Cultivate a Willing Heart
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
As Psalm 139 passage suggests, be willing to present your heart to the Lord to be examined. Let God direct your steps. Acknowledge that the Lord sees what you cannot see, even those obstacles to faith that sometimes we put in place to keep us “safe.” Be willing to let God work in your life.
Cultivating a willing heart is to be willing to align your heart with God’s purpose for you. It is knowing that God’s purpose is so perfect and put it in front of your own desires.
Cultivating a willing heart is to know that God’s will for you is good and perfect, in such a way to want to seek His will to shape your daily life. It is to acknowledge your daily need for God’s guidance, and the willingness to follow His leading for your own good and as an act of worship.
Obey God’s Word... Be a Doer
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.(Philippians 4:8-9)
What good does it do if we take delight in God’s word but do nothing about it?
Tasting the Lord by listening to his Word and putting it into practice, opens your eyes to see God’s hand working in your life and in the lives of others.
It is to put your trust in God into consistent actions of faith for a continued harvest of righteousness and blessing.
Obeying the Lord’s Word and being a doer of His Word, allows you to taste God’s promises for you. It allows you to witness God’s wonderful dealings with you, as you learn to trust Him.
Abide in God’s love
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
Abiding in God’s love is not about doing things for God to love you. God already loves you—even before you loved Him.
What I mean by abiding in God’s love is taking delight in His true love for you in such a way to extend the truth of His grace and love to others.
The more you get to know His amazing love for you, the more you are compelled to love others. Note how John 13 states that how we love others is a sign or a stamp that we love and follow the Lord.
In summary, take time to taste the Lord. God wants you to experience Him. Desire His Word, His presence, cultivate a willing heart, be a doer and abide in His love. Keep asking God that He may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Taste and see.