Drawing Near to God

Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

The conflict rages on within us. One part of us desperately hungers for more of God, a closer walk in His Spirit, a deeper intimacy with His heart. Another part jumps up and races off in random directions, following whatever happens to appeal to it at the time, or following old habits and tendencies that we have released and left behind.

Our minds drift when we try to focus on our conversation with God; we want to watch the current tv show or hear our favorite radio program when we are trying to read the Word. We feel the tug of working in the garden or yard, fixing a meal, going to the mall, cleaning the house, instead of taking the neighbor to the store or visiting a friend who is sick or in the hospital.

John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We usually reserve this scripture for funerals or some future hope and encouragement. But it illustrates God's nature of gracious and loving preparation, and His longing and desire for us to be in His presence. "...where I am, there you may be also." He has already taken care of all needs that we have, and understands fully what we face, and has personal experience on how to overcome it. There is no better source for help, nor any better friend to hang around with.

Matthew 10:22 ...but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Perseverance in all that God's guidance moves you to do, in carrying out what seems right and good, in obeying His wishes as far as you understand them, will enable God to give you more clear and definite leading. As we continually keep a clear channel of communication open with God, freeing and cleaning our thoughts of outward inference and influence, as we read, meditate on, write down, and speak back to Him the Word of God, renewing our hearts and minds, making them responsive and sensitive to God's touch, we will see the next step in the darkness, know the next action in the midst the turmoil.

Mark 9:24 ..."I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

There is no better expression of our human frailty, or of our soul's sincere desire for progress. As we feel the existence of God and His power, we believe in Him more and more; at the same time, we become more aware of our shortcomings and how we fall short of absolute trust in God. Our spiritual growth is marked by increasing belief, then a cry for more belief, and a plea to conquer all unbelief. Let us walk in the faith, the vision, the understanding we have, and welcome the experiences that God sends to let us exercise more faith, knowing He is beside us, meeting each need, giving us strength as we rise, step by step, nearer, growing stronger, coming closer to the One we love and the One deserving of our praise.

Gracious and loving Father, thank You for the strong and enduring love with which You have drawn us, else we would not have even sought You. Thank You that Your Word lights our path and shows us the way when we are lost and confused, uncertain of which way to turn next. Thank You, Lord, that our desire to be near You is matched and exceeded by Your desire to bring us to You, and that Your patience and persistence becomes our strength when we tire or become distracted. We make You our focus today, and take the next step You show us, knowing You will provide all we have need of.

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