How to Draw Closer to God...

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

1. Spend quality time with God. Quality time with God is never underrated. I truly believe God doesn't care about how much time you spend with Him as much as HOW you spend your time with Him. If your mind is easily distracted by a "To-Do" list, an upcoming work project, a relationship going sour, a doctor's visit, what you're making for dinner, what time to pick up the kids, or a million other things, then begin your time with God in prayer. Lay those worries, those stressors, at His feet. Then, if your mind is still all over the place, write those thoughts down. Releasing them in prayer and on paper should clear your mind to be more present with God. He understands. He knows your thoughts already. So, take the time to sort them out. Then, spend quality time with your Lord and Savior in His Word, and let Him help you with those worries and stressors. "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

2. Give Him praise and adoration. Worship is our response to God's grace. It acknowledges He is our Lord and Savior, and it draws us closer to Him. Take five minutes to worship God today. Turn on some worship music and give Him the praise and adoration for who He is and what He has done. Thank Him for His protection and provisions. Tell Him you love Him. Feel His presence. "Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you." (1 Samuel 12:24 CSB)

3. Seek good, not evil. Another way to draw closer to God is to put into practice the expectations and instructions He has given you through His Word. "The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil." (2 Samuel 22:21-22 NLT) Sometimes it feels like no one notices the good you do, but God does. And because He's God, He not only notices, but rewards those who follow His ways. The biggest reward? His presence with you. The more you seek Him who is good, the more you find Him.

4. Don't cling to worthless things. Cling to Him. "Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless." (1 Samuel 12:21 CSB) Worthless things of this world are any things that take you away from God. If we consume ourselves with the latest technology, money, status, health, home, our looks, friends, followers, relationships, work, success, fear, failure, regrets, etc., then we aren't consuming ourselves with the things that matter to God. It's okay to have things and to feel things; it's not okay to cling to them. We can't hold in our hands the things of God and the things of this world at the same time. It doesn't create balance; it creates confusion. So, how do you know what you are holding onto? Think what matters to you. If you knew you were going to die today, what would matter to you as you lay on your death bed?

5. Let go of pride. Pride is rooted in insecurity, which is rooted in identity. Pride is false protection. Pride is false perception. "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God]." (Proverbs 21: 3-4 AMP) Pride is not accepting what Christ has done for you. Pride is not keeping you safe; it's keeping you from God, who is your true refuge, stronghold, and security, Pride is not putting others first, which is therefore not loving God and loving your neighbor. Pride doesn't prove anything except the presence of sin. Let go of pride before it destroys you and your relationship with the Lord.

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13