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Have you ever wondered why you always experience God so powerfully during a youth camp? And why is it so hard to experience this when you’re back in your daily routine? We could try to find the secret formula for the God experience. We might even be able to experience God more, even outside the campground.

The first ingredient of the secret ‘God experience’ formula is fellowship. In fellowship we grow, we flourish, we see evidence of Him, we open up, and we compliment and encourage each other. God made us to be together, so the feeling of His presence often is more powerful when we’re together. The second ingredient of the secret ‘God experience’ is time spent in ‘God activities’. Consider what part of the day on a youth camp is spent in morning devotions, group discussions, evening worship services, spontaneous chats about God with your friends, workshops, etc. He is your main focus during youth camp, so it makes sense that He comes closer! Then the third ingredient of the secret ‘God experience’ is expectation and attention. Don’t we expect God to speak to us during youth camp? And what do you do if you expect someone to speak? I guess you listen more carefully. So if we pay more attention to God we will see and hear more of Him.

So there’s our secret formula to reconstruct the ‘God experience’ you had during camp. Just find the same fellowship, spend the same amount of time a day with ‘God activities’ and make sure you pay just as much attention in case He speaks… Good luck!

I’m guessing you have tried this before after a youth camp. And you probably got disappointed and frustrated. Now why is that? Well… you have to go to school again and you can’t sleep over at your Christian friends’ house every day. And somehow the Church doesn’t organize daily morning devotions, workshops and services… reading your Bible alone at home and playing guitar in your room alone somehow isn’t the same. And how can you possibly give God all your attention when your math books are waiting and your mom yells at you that you have to clean up your room? That’s right, it’s not possible.

Still you probably want more of God in your daily life, and that is awesome! Believe me, it is possible. It probably just won’t be exactly the same as it was during youth camp.

Your first step is to ask yourself why you want to feel this ‘God experience’ again. Is it because it felt so good and you don’t want to lose the feeling? Or is it because you really want for God to become more important in your life? Most of the time it’s a little bit of both, but you should realize that if the ‘God experience’ itself is your goal you will probably fail. Getting to know Him better is not the same as feeling the ‘God experience’ all the time (also see blog ‘Youth camp after effect’).

If you still want for God to take more of your life for His purposes, you can come back to the formula. You don’t need to replicate the youth camp, you need to adjust the formula to your daily life. Be creative and be realistic! Because then it’s up to you to persevere. That’s the hardest part, but it is important. I promise you, you will get to know God better. You probably won’t have the same experience you had during youth camp. But you will experience many other things that are just as valuable.

How to adjust the formula to your daily life – Be realistic and be creative!

Fellowship – try to engage in Christian fellowship at least once a week:

• Find a (few) Christian friend(s) to talk with about what you learn about God, the questions you have, the things you find hard.
• Join the youth group in your Church and/or make a new commitment to actively share your thoughts and be there for the others in your group.
• Find a Christian network on the internet where you can chat with other Christians.

‘God-activities’ – for example, choose to do at least one ‘God-activity’ a day:

• Visiting the youth group.
• Spending time in prayer or organize a prayer meeting with friends.
• Playing worship songs on your guitar or cd and sing along.
• Reading your Bible or a good Christian book.
• Start a conversation about God with your Christian friend.
• Ask your pastor that one question you’ve always  wanted to know the answer to.

Attention – find a way to remind yourself as often as you can that God is there wherever you are:

• Write down ‘Think God’ on a piece of paper and post it next to your bed or over your desk.
• Put a bookmark in your calendar that says ‘Pay attention’.
• Install a wallpaper on your cellphone and/or computer that reminds you of God.
• Paint one wall in your room red, to remind you of God’s love for you.

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