Draw Near to God: A Guide to Spiritual Growth

Over the years there have been several songs about getting closer to God. I have thought of a few and you can probably think of a few more. Songs have a special place for me, because when Dad was going through his dementia and could not remember who anyone was, you could sing a song and he would sing along with you. If find comfort in that. I also find comfort in these short videos.

Play videos…

I don’t know about you, but that gets me right here. (♥) I have watched video after video like these of dementia patients that knew who Jesus is even though they didn’t know anyone else.

That should bring some peace to all of us. If we know God, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then He will never leave us nor forsake us. God is right there with patients as they go through the worst of the worst. Not only do these patients know Jesus, just the thought of Him brings them joy. We can have that joy now too, by getting closer to God.

Let’s read our main text. James 4:8

Sounds simple enough, right? I would like to talk about getting closer to God and taking God up on His promise. What are some simple steps to get us closer to God?

First of we need to do some self-evaluation. I want to give you a few questions to think about and with those questions some possible answers. Maybe the answers that I offer are not your answers, so feel free to use your own answers to these questions.

Ø Where are you with God? Top of the world, moving in the right direction, moving in the wrong direction, or stuck in the mud.

Ø How are your daily spiritual habits, i.e. praying, reading the bible, listening and obeying? Are they wonderfully consistent? Hit or miss? Or are they non-existent?

Ø How’s your conscience before God right now? No issues, a little unsure, or guilty as sin.

Ø How close do you feel to God today? Inseparable, An acquaintance or like a stranger.

No matter where you are, you can always be closer to God. None of us have everything figured out completely and we have a lot to learn. What do you need to do to draw closer to God? Well, is starts with your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 and Deuteronomy 6:5.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there (where you are,) you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.

Closeness to God starts with the heart. I don’t want you to get lost just in the aspect of doing, but I also want you to loving God more. How do we do that. Point 1.

1. Remember who He is to you!

Who is God to you? He is your Father. So, when we talk about loving God, He is not this impersonable being, He is loving our Father!

I John 3:1

Now many of us have experienced what a good father is like but let’s be honest, there are some really horrible dads out there. Some of us have had very bad experiences throughout our childhood with our dads or father figures. Some dads are physically abusive. Some are mentally abusive, either with telling you that you are not good enough or just ignoring your need for love and affection.

Many children today do not even know what any type of father is, because, their dad has never been around nor have they had anyone to be a dad to them. Many shows on tv make the fathers out to be morons or unfaithful, or overbearing. Satan is really good at destroying what a father is. I know of a student who has 2 moms and that student calls one of them dad. So, it can be hard to for some to think of God as a Good Father. I get that.

But even those that have been through a bad father experience have experienced friends that have good fathers, fathers that love them and protect them and provide for them. Many of them wish they had a father like that.

If you would take just a moment and think of the best father figure that you have ever known, that father would not even compare to the Father that God is. Before He formed you in the womb He knew you. Before you loved Him, He sent His Son to die for you so that you have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him forever. Which brings us to the next thought.

2. Recognize His love for you.

Many times, the idea of God is… all God is…. is a rule giver. Sometimes people look at God in a harsh way, like He is watching from Heaven waiting on us to mess up, so He can punish us. We fail to see just how much God really loves us. Do you understand how much God loves you? Not because of what you do, but because of who you are!

If I read my bible, if I pray, if I teach a class, if I do this or that, God will love me. God loved you that while you were still in sin, He sent Jesus to die for you. Cheryl has said that God loves us the perfect amount. He won’t love us more because we do more. His love is perfect. And loves us inspite of who we were. That doesn’t give us the green light to do nothing or the bare minimum or do whatever we want. We didn’t do and can’t do anything to earn His love; it is already there.

I John 4:9

I John 4:19

If you want to get closer to God, then you need to have His character. We need to love others, not because of who they are or what they can do for us, but because God loves them. We should show love because we are called to be imitators of God. God loved you and you didn’t deserve it. You must love others even if they don’t deserve it.

Another great way to get closer to God is to…..

3. Reflect on what He did for you.

I John 4:10

There was a story on WCVB of a firefighter that on Dec. 26, 1976 rescued a 3-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister from a house fire. Joseph Gilmore arrived at a house fire and found out that there were children inside.

Years later the boy in the picture Umar Fox decided that he wanted to get into contact with this fireman. He researched and researched and finally found him. 45 years later, they met and talked and hugged. Umar was so grateful because of this selfless act, “This guy saved our lives and we wouldn’t be here. I have wonderful children and my sister has great kids, too.”

Joseph saved their lives, so they could live longer. Jesus saves your soul so you can live forever. If you want to get closer to God, take time to reflect on what He has done for you. Which is so much more than we could ever do to repay Him.

The next thought is, “You can never repay God, but you can

4. Respond with a dedication of your love.

I want you to think back to when you first gave your heart to God. Back when there was nothing going to slow you down, nothing could hold you back or put out your fire, but gradually things seem to slow your roll. Not so much fire but a flicker of a flame.

When Cheryl and I got married, (Still not sure how I conned her into that), when we got married, it was exciting and new and the world was ours to conquer. That “honeymoon” period of fire kind of became a flicker. But here’s the deal, even when she doesn’t like me, which is hard to believe, she continues to commit her love to me. And when I don’t get my way, after I pout about it, I continue to dedicate my love to her and I got a motorcycle and she buys yarn.

If you respond to God with a dedication of your love for Him, not just in words, but in actions, He will come closer to you and He will reveal Himself to you in a powerful way. “You will seek Me and you will find Me, when you seek Me with your whole heart.”

Come in a Little Closer