Drawing Closer to God

Scripture:  James 4:7-8 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

As we live out our Christian life, we will be tested as we walk with God. Before I invited Jesus Christ into my life,  I can remember times when I found myself in trouble -- and I would call upon the Lord for help to get what I wanted.  I was deceiving myself.  God was gracious and merciful toward me.  I did not get what I deserved. Now that I am a Christian, I really have a desire to draw closer in the things of the Lord.  In good times as well as bad times God is committed to be there for me.  I desire to submit my life fully to Him.

According to James 4:7-8, I must submit my heart and life to God in a daily walk, --  seeking Him through His word and abiding in His presence in worship and praise.

Because of the war that is going on within and outside of me, I must resist the devil and his evil devices by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ’s name – standing in truth of God’s word.  (Matthew 4:14 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.)

We must ask God to cleanse us and purify our hearts.  (Psalms 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.)  We are to be honest and transparent with God by acknowledging our sins, and we must take personal responsibility for our sins.  (Psalms 51:3 - For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.)  We should be broken about sin in our life.  (Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.) (Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.)

We are called to walk with a humble heart in God’s sight.  We must humble ourselves and let go of pride and a self-centered lifestyle, and focus on living a Christ-centered lifestyle by denying ourselves and picking up our crosses and follow the Lord. (I Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.)  (Matthew 16:24 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

The Bible says that it is a good thing to draw close to God.  (Psalms 73:28 - But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.) When we draw close to God, we are able to draw on His strength, His grace, mercy, love and joy, in sickness, grief, and in the struggles and the challenges of life. Remember, always draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.  Are you drawing close to God in your daily lifestyle?

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  We need You, and we are nothing without You.  Help us to walk in the Spirit that we may draw close to You with joy in our heart.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Min. Robert Williams)