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The Lord is near to all who call, to all who call on God in truth.
-Psalm 145:18
“Huggle!” Our boys love a good hug. Our toddler will say this when he wants affection. Even if he’s already sitting right next to us, he will whisper this and snuggle in extra close. Something in him bubbles up and he wants to be even more secure. Over and over scripture reminds us that while God is always with us, we can and should draw near to God. I often remind our youth they can do this in prayer, in studying scripture, and in worship. When we tell God we want to be close, God promises to draw nearer to us too.
Have you ever taken an extended pause from prayer or reading your Bible or worshipping by with other believers. Did you feel the deep need to draw close again? Did coming back give you a peace you’d forgotten you needed? Maybe it’s been a while now and you’ve needed that reminder.
In one of my favorite Christmas episodes of ER, a Jewish woman is injured in a car jacking. Her granddaughter was in the backseat and goes missing. She’s a survivor of the Holocaust and hasn’t prayed in years, so she asks her doctor to help her pray. He describes himself as the son of a lapsed Catholic and an agnostic Jew. But together, they draw near to God and pray for the first time in a long time. Spoiler (the show aired in the 90s), the granddaughter is returned safely. They decide her return, and theirs to faith, are miracles. And so it is for us. When we draw near to God, especially after an intermission or absence, God celebrates this miracle. I invite you to draw near to God this week. Maybe with a stranger in need. Maybe in worship at JCPC or online. Maybe in the prayer below.
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