“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4-8 NIV)
Our heavenly Father desires to have an intimate love relationship with each one of His children. We were created for fellowship with God and nothing else will fill that longing in our hearts for Him. We are His Blood bought children and His Spirit dwells in us. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can come close to God. He promised that He will come near to us when we come near to Him. He has opened the door of fellowship to us and we should be taking advantage of this wonderful privilege every day.
God wants us to know Him, not just to know about Him. The only way we can know God is by spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word. If we are too busy to spend time alone with God, we need to make some adjustments in our lifestyles. Instead of working Him into our schedule, we should work our schedule around Him. We should set aside time each day to spend alone with our heavenly Father. Knowing God intimately will require an investment of our time, but it is an investment that pays huge benefits. When we put God first by spending time in His presence, every area of our lives will be positively impacted.
Jesus is our example. We are told to imitate Him. He kept a close relationship with the Father through prayer. He got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, to spend time alone with God. He heard from His Father and always did what pleased Him. He lived to do the will of the Father and so should we. We should seek our Father continually and do what he says. Our heavenly Father loves us and has a good plan for our lives. He will reveal that plan to us, as we diligently seek Him with a whole heart.
True prayer is communication with God. It is talking to Him and listening to Him. Prayer builds intimacy with God. Our Father wants us to pray about everything. He wants to be involved in every area of our lives. We should always pray in agreement with God’s Word, because His Word is His will. When we pray according to God’s will, we know our prayers will be answered. Our heavenly Father wants us to trust Him and enjoy our lives while we are waiting for Him to bring His will to pass. His timing is always perfect.
God’s will is for Christ to be completely and permanently formed within us. He wants to grow us up into the Image of Jesus. We will grow spiritually as we get knowledge of God’s Word and obey it. We must spend time daily in His Word. We are actually fellowshipping with God when we read His Word. Reading and studying the Word of God will help us understand His character and, at the same time, renew our minds with the truth. Knowing God’s Word and obeying it will change our hearts and minds and transform our lives.
When we spend regular, quality time alone with God, the Holy Spirit will strengthen and empower us to do God’s will. He will give us direction for our lives and lead us step by step, one day at a time. He will always lead us in the way of love, because God is love. He has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Spending time with God causes us to become sensitive to the unconditional love He wants to demonstrate to us and to others through us. He wants us to reach out to those around us with His love. Living a lifestyle of love is essential if we want to remain in continual fellowship with God. First John 4:16 (AMP) says, “God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.” Every step out of love is a step out of this vital daily communion with God. The Holy Spirit will teach and empower us to live the life of love as we remain in fellowship with our heavenly Father.
God wants to bless us in every area of our lives. He wants us to live victoriously, but it will take our continual commitment of spending time with Him. Our determined purpose should be to know God more and more intimately so we can continually grow spiritually and live the abundant, victorious life that Jesus came to give us.
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I want to come closer to You. I want to know You more intimately and grow spiritually. I choose to put You first in my life by spending time alone with You daily. Thank You for coming close to me and giving me the power to do Your will. Thank You for leading me step by step, one day at a time. Help me to remain in daily communion with you and live the life of love that You have called me to live. Thank You for growing me up into Your Image!”
Pat Gray
129 Ball Drive, Calhoun City, MS 38916, email <patclaygray@yahoo.com >