Our proximity to the Lord hinges on our earnest desire and persistent prayer to draw nearer to Him. He does not force Himself upon us even though He loves us dearly, and it is not His desire that any of us should perish. It is His will that all of us should know Him and live and reign with Him forever.
The journey of drawing closer to the Lord can be motivated and strengthened by His promise: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). While the Lord resides in Heaven, His Spirit resides within the heart of every believer. We are all His dwelling place, and this is possible because He is omnipresent. He fills time and space, is infinite, and is greater than we can imagine or understand.
As we trust in Christ, He establishes His dwelling in our hearts, and our roots grow deeper into God’s love, anchoring us firmly (Ephesians 3:17). Through the Holy Spirit, Christ communicates with us, shaping our thoughts and transforming our desires. When we reach out to Him, He responds to us. The Bible advises us in Isaiah 55:6-9, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Seeking the Lord’s Presence
By consistently seeking and asking for His presence in our lives, we affirm our desire to remain close to the Lord every day. Our prayers reveal our dependency on Him and our yearning for His presence.
Jesus teaches us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
When we cry out to Him with humility, especially in times of distress, the Lord hears and delivers us from our troubles. He draws near to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:17-18), providing strength and solace in our times of need.
There is a popular hymn written by Karen Lafferty entitled, “Seek Ye First” based on the Bible verses Matthew 6:33, Matthew 7:7-8, and Matthew 4:4. It encourages us to seek the Lord and focus on His word. The lyrics are below:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Downloaded 6/26/2024 from: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/120
Serving the Lord
Jesus calls us to serve Him wholeheartedly: “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26).
To serve the Lord is to recognize Him as our Master, faithfully following His lead and entrusting our lives entirely to Him. Our dependence on Christ cultivates a close relationship rooted in love.
Remaining Connected to Christ
Jesus illustrates our spiritual union with Him: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Remaining in Christ allows us to bear fruit in our lives, sharing the gospel and ministering effectively. Our connection to Him ensures that our efforts are empowered by His divine authority.
Love as the Core
John emphasizes the centrality of love: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
Love binds us intimately with the Lord, reflecting His nature. It motivates us to minister to others and compels us to witness boldly, knowing that God’s love fills our hearts as we do His work.
Blessings of Closeness to the Lord
There is no greater privilege than being close to the Lord. Our souls are nourished with heavenly blessings that transform our thoughts and emotions. While on earth, this closeness provides us a glimpse of the eternal joy we will experience in the presence of the Father and the Son.
Temporal pursuits cannot satisfy our souls, which yearn for the enduring contentment found only in God. The closer we draw to Him, the more profoundly His blessings sustain us through all circumstances.
The Example of Contentment
Paul’s life exemplifies this contentment: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). Despite adversity, Paul found fulfillment in God’s presence, experiencing divine peace and satisfaction.
This contentment is available to all who earnestly seek to draw near to the Lord. By desiring intimacy with Him, we open our lives to His transformative power and blessings.
Meditation on God’s Word
Joshua instructs us: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
Meditation deepens our intimacy with God, quieting worldly anxieties and drawing us closer to Him. It requires solitude, akin to Jesus’ solitary moments with the Father, where we commune with God, expressing our thoughts and receiving His peace.
Conclusion
The desire to draw close to the Lord aligns our hearts with His will. As we serve Him and remain steadfast in His love, we experience His presence—a source of love, peace, joy, comfort, and contentment for our souls. This closeness diminishes fear and fills us with divine assurance, guiding us through life and into eternity.
Nothing surpasses the blessing of a loving relationship with our Lord. His boundless love and desire to bless us beyond measure sustain us on our journey, leading us toward His eternal embrace.1 Corinthians 15:19 (NKJV) states, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” Let us not focus only on our present life which is only for a short time compared to eternity. Let us put our trust in Christ and seek to do His will.