Drawing Near

Scripture

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. -James 4:8

We might have heard this verse spoken in our journey as believers. As we study scripture, we'll find men who have pursued God, cried out to Him, chased after Him, and worshipped Him. They were drawing near. If you intend to cultivate fellowship with anyone, it takes your continuous effort, time, attention, and communication. The same effort should be taken when pursuing God's heart. The scripture above is a part of an admonishment that urges believers to submit to God, resist the devil, and he'll flee. Then the author tells them to draw near to God. It does us no good to submit to God's authority and resist the devil and then fail to draw near to God.

So what does it look like to draw near to God? First, understand that as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. One way we draw near to God is in prayer. We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer is intentional communication with God, seeking His presence, and strengthening our relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Another way that we draw near to God is through our worship. When we worship the Lord, we are pursuing closeness with Him. There are different acts of worship. However, posture in worship should reflect our heart's desire for Him. Another way we draw near to God is communing with Him. We sit in His presence and enjoy the time spent with Him. This is a time when He speaks to us. 

The truth is that drawing near to God is about reciprocity. With as much zeal as you pursue Him, He'll show up to be with you. He desires to be with us. Not only does drawing near to Him help us resist the devil, but it helps us stay holy. Drawing near to God, helps us to love others. Drawing near to God helps us live from the realm of His Kingdom. Beloved, draw near to God today. He's eager to draw near to you. 

Prayer 

Father, we come before you with hearts that long to be closer to you. We know that you desire a relationship with us, and we desire to draw closer to you each day. We ask that your Holy Spirit lead us to your heart. In Jesus's name. Amen