Grace Notes – Grace to Draw Near
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
James 4:8a
“Therefore He is able also to save forever
those who draw near to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25 NASB
Grace Perspective:
In this brief passage from James, God assures us that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. This promise is a source of comfort and security, offering us refuge from the sin-soaked world and inviting us to come close to Him. As we draw nearer to Him, He unveils more of His holiness, goodness, mercy, and grace, filling us with peace and reassurance.
In the passage from Hebrews, we see a benefit from drawing near to God. We find our Savior there, interceding for us to the Father. We have an invitation to draw near the One who can save us forever from the penalty of sin. Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father as an eternal reminder that He is the only way to have eternal life in heaven.
God extends a personal and gracious invitation for us to have a deeper relationship with Him. He, the One who longs for us to enjoy His presence, values and loves us deeply. Drawing closer to Him gives us the strength to endure the various trials we encounter as we wait for Him to bring us to heaven, where we will be in His presence forever.
A Touch of Grace:
What will you do with God’s invitation to draw near?
How do you personally benefit from drawing near to God?
What changes have you noticed in your life as you draw closer to Him?
Grace Application:
What does it mean to draw close to God? How can we come close to someone we can’t see? Great questions! Think back to when you met someone, and there was an immediate connection. How did you go about getting to know them better? Did you make time for them? Did you ask questions and then listen intently as they answered? What did you do to deepen your relationship?
Drawing close to God happens similarly. Yes, He is God, the Creator of the Universe, yet He longs to have a closer relationship with us. Imagine…the One who formed you and knows everything about you wants you to learn more about Him! He promises to come closer to you when you seek Him. So, how do we draw closer to Him?
Like any other relationship we long to deepen, we spend time with the person we want to get to know. Make time for God every day. Reading or listening to the Bible is an excellent way to discover who God is. Prayer draws us closer to His heart. I love praying using His word as a guide. I use His words as my prayer, for example:
Abba Father,
You tell me that if I draw close to You, You will draw near to me. (James 4:8a) Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24) Jesus, You promise that as I draw close, You will intercede for me as a reminder that You paid for all my sins. (Hebrews 7:25) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
In the Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.
We get to know others by spending time with them. So today, say yes to God’s invitation to draw closer to Him. Let His word be your guide as you seek to know the One who created you and sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to save you from the penalty of sin. Pray, sing worship songs, or simply be still so you hear His voice whispering into your heart, “draw close to Me, and I will draw close to you.”
In His Grace,
Dawn
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, thankful that You call me to draw close to You. Create within my heart a deep desire to know You more intimately. Purify my heart of the sin that quickly dwells there so that I see You more clearly. Forgive me for the many times I draw away from You. May my heart desire to worship You and know You more fully. Amen
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so your doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of Salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**