In James 4:8 we read, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
What is it to draw near to God? I suppose some might answer with things such as read your Bible or go to church. We might say we need to take some time to pray. But there’s a problem: if that’s drawing near to God, how do we go about reading our Bibles all the time or attending church 24/7. We can’t do it. And even to constantly pray is a lifelong challenge with almost innumerable increments of time that need to be filled in with prayer.
So I suggest to you that drawing near to God is not so much a given activity we do as it is a connection we make. We choose to team up with God in his work of helping others realize how precious they are to him. We will always find God there — right beside the next person who comes to our attention — and we will find him in need, as it were, of our thoughts, prayers, words, or actions whereby he can affirm that person’s value.
So draw near to God by stepping into his world of cherishing the people he’s placed in your life. When you work with him you will always find him near to you.
