CLOSER, DEEPER

James 4:8 – Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

This verse instructs us to push into God’s presence. Through adversity, tests, and tribulation; we are to turn from our sinfulness and double-mindedness and aim our hearts in the direction of God. We are blessed when we have been awakened to this spiritual need. There are times in our lives when we recognize the need to get more serious about our walk with God. It may be a severe trial, fierce adversity, or some other difficult situation that we are facing. Or it just may be a nudge in your spirit, that still small voice speaking to your heart, telling you to “come closer, dig deeper”.  Signs of the times, and God’s Word being fulfilled before our eyes can also be an alarming notice for us to get it in gear.

In Romans 13:11-14, the apostle Paul writes, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

When we really understand where we are on God’s calendar of events and how close we are to the coming of the Lord, it will motivate us to do what the apostle James encourages us to do which is to draw near to God. Knowing that the coming of the Lord is near is a great motivator, but it shouldn’t be the only one. Just to be closer to the Lord should be motivation enough. To think that our thrice holy God has invited us to come near to Him is an honor and a privilege. Through the sacrifice of Christ, we now have access and the opportunity to draw near.

Through our praise and worship, our daily meditation on His Word, and through prayer and fasting, we draw near to the God that loves us and gave His only begotten son to take our place. It is to Him that we draw closer, into His Word we dig deeper, and we long to daily live in His presence.

During this time of prayer and fasting we are seeking to break through the fleshly barrier of resistance that prevents us from really experiencing the outpouring of God’s bounty. When we breakthrough, we will know that in His presence is fulness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). We want God to first bring us through, delivering us from any and everything that is contrary to His will for us. We want Him to bless us so that we can be a blessing in the manner that our Lord has ordained.

As we fast and pray, we do so in faith. We draw closer to Him having confidence that He will reciprocate. Your praying, your fasting, your believing, is not in vain. As you seek after Him, know that it’s not in vain. Our Lord says to all that come to Him, desiring to be close; All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (St. John 6:37).

From the heart and hand of

Pastor Reginald Reaves

For additional resources and study materials, visit

COTNC.org

ReginaldReaves.com