Let Us Draw Near to God. God then Draws Nearby to Us
We usher a prayer to Almighty God. As we do, His loving presence draws ever closer.
Leaning, Leaning.
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!Oh! how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!
Oh! how bright the path
Grows from day to day. (Elisha Albright Hoffman)
Introduction. The most precious treasure any person is ever given by Almighty God. Is Himself.
Scripture Readings: The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth. (Psalm 145:18, NIV)That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27, ESV)
We all dearly desire an intimate and lasting connection with God, yes??? You and I know what matters most in our life of faith. To both God our Father and to ourselves. It is a sincere heartfelt companionship with Almighty God. We need to spend time, quality time with God each day. Through reading, meditating on and memorizing God’s Holy Word. Our prayer time with Our Heavenly Father is never to be rushed. Never, never to be neglected.
Why to all faithful Christians is it so vital to be near to Almighty God??? Why at times do we feel God absent from our day? We believe deep within. Our identity as a Christian. Begins and ends with our faith and our absolute trust in God Almighty. It is akin to making a pair of jeans without the pins, needles and the thread. Simply not possible. The jeans would not stay together. Life in faith without prayer and Bible study is not possible. Faith and trust in our Heavenly Father over time ebbs away.
This is what our life of faith would be like without prayer and the study of God’s Word. Our faith and our trust in our Heavenly Father would simply fall apart. The denim is there. You and I have accepted Christ Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. Yet, by neglecting our prayer life. By not spending quality time in His Holy Word. We are not stitching our life of faith together. Gradually, overtime our faith and our trust in Almighty God slips between the unbound seams.
Scripture Reading: Look to the Lord and His strength,
seek His face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11, NIV)
Our prime motivation for having and maintaining the closeness with our Father. We love God with all we are and with all we have. It is the same, the as the need for you and me to be close to our earthly father. Our unceasing love and devotion to the Almighty One. This sadly, at times proves not to be enough. We neglect both our prayer life and our quality time reading God’s Holy Word.
Connection with and maintaining a nearness to Almighty God.
Scripture Readings: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13, ESV)
You shall meditate on it day and night. (Joshua 1:8, NIV)
I don’t know about you. I eagerly look forward to my quiet and alone time. Reading my somewhat worn-out Bible each night. I always prepare a ‘nest.’ Make myself comfy. Always, always pray for guidance. Allowing myself as much time as needed.
I try as hard as I can to minimize distractions. Even then important verses need to be re-read. Quite a few times to get them to sink in.
At times of heartache. Or when a family member is desperately seeking my comfort and strength. God’s Holy Word is pushed aside. Silly me. These are the very times I should be reaching for my Bible. Seeking God’s wisdom and His comforting love. May God be praised. His Spirit I listen to. God the Holy Spirit whispers to my heart and urges me to reach for His Word. I listen and I learn from God once more. Each time I listen. I am blessed with the teaching, the healing and the love I need. God’s Holy Word. God’s love story is packed with lessons, with teachings, with the wisdom of God, Himself. When read and meditated on each day. Yes, we remain in the Holy and loving nearness of God, Himself.
Scripture Reading: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.
He sent out His word and healed them,
He rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love,
and His wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:19–21, ESV)
Life is comparable to a bouncing ball. Sometimes up. Other times down.
As you and I study our beloved Bible. God places many promises before us not to worry or to be anxious. Then we learn our child has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. How exactly are we not to worry or not be anxious??? For a mother’s love is like no other.
We know. We believe Almighty God is bigger, than our child’s illness. Is knowing enough??? Is knowing enough to get our child and us through this tempest?
Then we turn to,
Scripture Reading: Jesus Calms the Storm
Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23–26, NIV)
We see the absolute terror on the faces of Jesus’ beloved disciples. Their simple fishing vessel was not sturdy. Their lives in deadly peril. “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus calmed the waves. Our Lord stilled the storm. Is there anything not possible to Almighty God.
As we read of Jesus our Lord, our Savior, our God performing His miracle. As you and I read of all the miracles recorded in God’s Holy Word. We bow our heads and ask for forgiveness. For in ever doubting God’s love and power over our life. For there is never one moment in our life. God’s love for us is not there. No matter our circumstance. No matter our trial or trouble. Nothing is impossible for God Almighty.
Scripture Reading: Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, ESV)
Conclusion. Let Us Draw Near to God. God then Draws Nearby to Us. We usher a prayer to Almighty God. As we do, His loving presence draws ever closer.
- The most precious treasure any person is ever given by Almighty God. Is Himself.
- Connection with and maintaining a nearness to Almighty God.
- Life is comparable to a bouncing ball. Sometimes up. Other times down.
If God touched your heart,
please highlight your favorite passages
and leave me a message.
Thank you.
