It Starts Small

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

Last night I had the opportunity to listen to a friend testify about how Jesus is working in their life. To help them heal and to overcome. I was greatly blessed they shared with me how the Holy Spirit is transforming their ears to listen and their heart to be free of doubt and to just trust in our Heavenly Father.

I thought about where my life was a year ago. I poured over my writings from a year ago and ran across this verse and my prayer.

…Father do not return me back to them until I am the woman you had always intended me to be…

⁵ Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1 Corinthians 7:5

That morning I was praying this verse. I had submitted my life to God to pray and seek him. To be made whole so that I could return back to my family and marriage a new creation as God had promised. To tear those awful death clothes off. To be delivered into liberty and freedom and return new. I continued to pray for God to draw me closer to this amazing family he blessed me with and the creation of our marriage.

Drawing closer to God has brought amazing blessing to my life.

God draws closer to you!

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

To draw close to our Heavenly Father, we have to diligently seek Him. Diligence means, characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort. Diligence is making God priority over all things in your life. It means getting up a bit earlier to spend the first of your day with Him. It means putting away things that steal your time from Him. Spending time with God becomes priority in your life. It is persistent and constant effort on your part to spend time with Him.

If we want to be closer to Him, we need to passionately, with all our effort seek Him. God rewards those who passionately and diligently seek Him. Some call it pressing into God. It is not just about pressing into God or reading His word, it is about pressing into the presence of God. God rewards our effort by drawing close to us.

There is nothing more precious or treasured than the fellowship and friendship of God Almighty! When he draws near us, the door of communication is swung wide open! This is when our ears are opened and our heart receives through the Holy Spirit, His instruction, correction, confidence, and encouragement. You are able to enjoy all of the rewards promised by Him through this relationship.

Closeness gives Guidance in All Truth

¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

When we draw close to God, He will guide us in all truth! God is the only TRUTH and He says He will lead us by truth. This is not some truth, a little truth, or partial truth. All truth is opened to us when we draw close to Him. God is the author of truth and He will reveal His truth through the Holy Spirit.

No matter what storm we are in the middle of, no matter what small or large giant we are facing today, no matter what low valley we are walking or tall mountain that stands before us, our Heavenly Father will guide us. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you knowledge, understanding and truth to guide you and help you navigate. Make time in your day to let Jesus reveal truth and bring new insights to you life.

Closeness brings Sight

¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

A reward to drawing close to Jesus is HIm showing us, through the Holy Spirit, things to come. WHen you abide in Christ, you have access to an anointing power that teaches you all things. This power opens your eyes and ears to know the will of God in ALL situations. When you are walking in the Spirit, you are walking in victory and through God’s victory He reveals His heart, desire, and purpose for your life.

Victory is not walking in your own way, under your own power, in your own mental capacity, doing what you feel is best in a situation. If we rely on what comes natural to us, we will be defeated. God is the only one that can show us the things to come and speak His desire, will and purpose for us in that situation. The Holy Spirit will continually direct us and reveal to us how to walk right through trials and tests.

Closeness brings strength

¹⁰ Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Have you encountered an impossible situation? Is your strength sapped or ability to handle and deal with it gone? Do you ever just want to give up in defeat? That end of the rope you are at, is where God begins! We do not have to face discouragement or weariness because God new the instant He created us, we needed Him! His strength is made perfect in us!

⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Strength is from the translated word dunamis. According to Strongs, dunamis means, God’s miracle working power. So at the end of that rope, when we are tempted to let God and give up, God’s miraculous strength begins! He promises us that His power and strength will bring us through!

The problem is we try to tackle our impossible situations, giants, and mountains on our own and in our own strength. Before these come to our lives we need to draw close to Jesus and build our relationship with Him to be prepared for trouble. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit gives us sight to see and He prepares us in advance to propel us to His victory. Drawing close and diligently seeking closeness rewards us with strength to get through anything in life!

Closeness brings provision

³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

What do you need today? physically, emotionally, spiritually?

As you draw close to God, your heart changes. Your desire changes. Your motivation begins to change. As God reveals His Heart, His desire, and His purpose, you begin to align with His will. God gives us a wonderful promise in this verse, when we seek him diligently, he will ensure all our needs are met to go and do what he asks of us.

Seeking Him first sounds like a relatively simple thing, yet we fail at this. We feel irresponsible if we are somehow not working or doing something to earn something. We have this natural instinct to believe we have to achieve something to get something, but God says, all I want is your heart and obedience. We are not called to achieve our own victory.

Seeking Him is to diligently seek Him first. We need to put truth first in our lives. Truth brings wisdom from the Word of God. When we are completely saturated with His truth and in line with Him, he pours our graciously everything we need.

Closeness is Anointing

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4:18

Yesterday, as my friend testified I remembered this scripture. As you draw close to God, something supernatural begins to take place in our lives. God is not looking for ability. He is look for us to be available. God does not depend upon our knowledge, privilege, or anything about us. God is our ability, and He gives us ability. In order for Him to to use His ability, He needs people who will draw near to him and listen. Drawing close to Jesus moves us into position where God’s ability moves into our ability and we become less dependent upon our own knowledge and talents.

God does not look at our bank accounts, natural ability, education, or position in life. When he makes His will known to you, he only expects that you obey Him and take the step of faith with Him to trust that when He speaks, He will provide ALL that you need to accomplish what he has asked of you.

What is He calling you to do today? Is it beyond your own ability? Then draw near to Jesus, walk forward in faith, and God’s ability will meet you there.

There is nothing you can’t do when you have access to these rewards!