He Will Draw Near to You

south ridge church

Dec 28

(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)

James 4:8 Come close to God, and he will come close to you.

How do you connect with God?

There are a number of false or unhealthy beliefs out there that advocate how to grow closer in your relationship with God. Some may say, "If you go to church, you will grow closer in your relationship with God." Others may say, "If you join a Small Group, or Bible Study, you will grow closer in your relationship with God." Others still may say, "If you read your Bible, you will grow."

The simple truth is that spending time in the Scriptures, prayer, and in community with other believers is likely to help you grow in your relationship with God. But it isn't a guarantee. Sometimes, a good worship service or Bible Study will inspire you. But inspiration only goes so far. Transformation begins to occur when we prioritize being in the presence of God and allow Him to root out what's deep beneath the surface in our lives. Not once a week, but daily.

Jesus came so God could be with us. Today, take time to consider how you can prioritize a lifestyle of being with Him.

READING & PRAYERS:

JAMES 4:8, MATTHEW 1:23, PSALM 139:7 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: How do you connect with God? Be honest: Are you intentional in planning out your time so that connecting with God is a priority for you?

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Today, take a little extra time to be with God. Remember, what you do for God comes from your being with God.

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that sometimes I don't prioritize being with You because I'm still not sure exactly what that looks like. I rely too much on what others say helps them connect with God and don't do the deep reflection to better understand how I can connect with You. Help me grow into a person who recognizes how I best connect with You. Amen.

(End with 1-2 minutes of silence)

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