I am so thankful, O Lord, that in the vast array of circumstances I face, if I draw closer to You … then You will draw closer to me. Together we will find the best solutions that will move my life forward and I can find peace. Painful trials and struggles happen in everyone’s life, but only in You can be found the comfort, wisdom and strength to deal with them. At times when I feel far from You, I can recover that closeness with You through prayer and seeking a connection through Your Word. As I am able to suppress the emotions of the moment and the deceptive messages of my enemy, I am able to reach out to You and find balance for my life. The choice always remains with me: Will I become distant until I feel like a stranger in Your presence or will I come closer so that You can take me in Your arms to comfort me and ease my pain. To be alone is my choice … and I never want to be separated from You.
Most Gracious Lord, help me draw closer to You so I can enjoy intimacy and fellowship with You. You are my Good Shepherd, the One who leads me to green pastures and cool, refreshing waters. I ask myself … Do I want to do my own thing and wander into dangerous places or do I want to stay under Your watchful eye and protection? I wrestle with the feeling of wanting to be free … free from the constant restraints of Your laws and expectations. However, I’ve come to see these are personal yearnings to do my own thing. They allow me to be drawn away from You and into more of myself. I know that when I am close to You I feel peace and rest. Why then am I tempted to test fate with people and events that surely lead to trouble I’d rather not have to deal with? Moving away from You is a sure invitation to disaster … while moving closer to You is a sure path to contentment.
I believe that as I learn to keep Your Word and walk in Your ways, You will reside in me and we will become one. When I neglect our relationship, I soon realize that something is missing from my life. Like the many things in my natural life that can breakdown and need repair … the same thing is true in my spiritual life. It happens when illness, death of a loved one, a job loss, a prayer remaining seemly unanswered … find their way into my life. The feeling of becoming disconnected from You comes when I take my eyes off of You and become more focused on my circumstances … thereby creating a sense of hopelessness and disappointment. In my times of brokenness, only Your healing can make me feel better. It comes to me through the medicine cabinet of Your heart. Help me avoid wandering from Your care and, instead, move closer to You for love and care. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to You.