DRAWING CLOSE
Colossians 1:9
“…We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
Colossians 1:9
“…We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
We hold our most holy and awesome God in utmost reverence. We are enormously privileged that He wants to build a close rapport (ra-PORE) with us. Matthew 1:23 calls the Lord Immanuel which means “God with us.”
As we kids study the Bible, many passages urge drawing close enough to God to form a relationship. Reading His Word shows us Who God is, how He thinks, and what He wants. We connect to Him, establishing mutual trust and appreciation between us.
Intimacy with our God means sitting on Jesus’ lap and whispering our dreams and goals into His ear. Crying out problems to Him, beseeching His help, unburdens the heart and generates peace. God is glorified and flattered by our attention, and eagerly offers His supreme help to untangle problem lives. God longs for our confidence—trusting Him to unburden our hearts, and then be free to live secure, solid lives.
Jesus promised, “I will not leave you as orphans…I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:18-20). This is precisely what the word abide means. Being part of someone also means ‘leaning on’ that person for reliability and stability. God truly ‘has your back’ when you abide in Him. Psalm 46:1 declares that God is our “very present help in trouble.” Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross not only won us salvation, but also opened up the road to develop this close, personal relationship with Almighty Father.
Spending quality time in God’s presence is when we’re quiet: meditating on Scripture, or praying. It’s a two-way street; He answers questions that we have, and provides peace when we’re upset. This quality time builds a relationship—a special, individual bond that He actively pursues. Our Father cherishes our closeness so much that this connection is one for which He guarantees respect, protection, and involvement.
Our “rock”, (relationship with God), is where we find shelter, stability, and strength. (Psalm 62:2, 40:31).
Take Home Nugget
God longs to be involved in the details of our lives. He promises to escort us through the journey of sanctification (to set us apart from the world), where He guides us through life circumstances that teach holiness. Abiding in and serving God intensifies our spiritual maturity and belief in Him.
When you admire someone, aren’t you proud to be named his friend?
J.D. Griffith
“The Lord will give you help and strength
For work He bids you do;
To serve Him from a heart of love
Is all He asks of you.”
Fasick
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What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?