It’s a dreary day in south Florida today. We have a tropical depression that’s stuck right over us bringing us intermittent downpours and wind. I’m very grateful that it is not a hurricane, and I’m praying they continue to stay away from the east, and gulf coast. Last year was enough!
I can tell some weather system is drawing near, as my body is letting me know. The ole atmospheric pressure change wreaks havoc on me and all those who suffer with arthritis, or sinus issues. This qualifies as the not so good drawing near.
No, we would rather have our spouse draw near( amorously not with the look upon their faces lol), or our children no matter how old they are. These are the times for the warm fuzzies, and awesome memories. This is how our Heavenly Father wants to be close to us. He longs for us to be close. I didn’t always think so. He felt distant when the bullying didn’t stop, or when I couldn’t stop drinking and wanted to. He definitely didn’t seem close during my “fox hole” prayers. Ever experience that? The cold reality that no one is near to help, including your Maker. This is a good segue back into my testimony since this is where I learned how to draw near to God(still learning).
I wrote last time that I had told God I wouldn’t portray His Son unless He fixed me. I also wrote that He healed me from addictions and I was sober for ten years. It was an awesome moment in my life to get to the root issue of rejection and know that was driving me all these years. I do wish I had done more about it though, as it reared its ugly head years later. I was very new to all of this Christian stuff, still a babe as they say. But for the first time in my life I was experiencing what it was to have faith. I really felt sure that God was preparing me for this role in the passion play, but circumstances said otherwise. Our church, where we attended with our daughter, and also worked(I was the maintenance guy), was going through a split. We got to experience the ugly side of so called Christians(kinda what’s happening in today’s America). I don’t think that any one should have to see that, especially those who are very young in the faith. Yet faith, that all would be well, and the church would be restored, kept us going. That faith grew exponentially which got us through the scare of losing our jobs.
Soon a new senior pastor was voted in, and he decided to keep the other pastors. Every one was happy, and I got to see how faith really works. “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2Corinthians 5:7 CSB) Though the circumstances about us precluded bad scenarios, faith brought hope, and hope brought strength to combat the whispers that it wasn’t going to happen the way we had been praying and believing for. Victory for Jesus, and I was heading to what He was calling me to. I was drawing closer to Jesus with every step forward.
You see, James 4:8 has more to it. It has 7 other verses before it. These verses are extremely powerful and important before the warm fuzzies happen. Jesus began to show me the way I was to go, the truth I needed to get there, and the life I was going to experience with Him was going to be extraordinary. I studied these verses, humbled myself before Him as He taught me about Himself. The more I learned and understood, the closer He came near. We were becoming inseparable. I was pouring over the gospels and memorizing His words. I read anything I could get my hands on about what Jesus went through that Passover week. I wanted to portray Him as best as humanly possible to reveal Him to the people who would be there. To bring Him glory and honor. One night during a dream that I still remember 33 years later, He brought me to the foot of the cross. I was there, at Calvary, during His crucifixion watching Him struggle to breathe and talk. I wasn’t allowed to see His face, but I experienced everything else. I awoke and felt His presence so strong. There is nothing like it ever.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 CSB). I love that verse so much! Most people love verse 11, which states how God has a plan for us, and that it is very good. But few know the power of verse 13. And James 4:6 states; “… that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” You cannot be proud if you are seeking God with all your heart. When you do so you are submitting to God. Then when you resist the devil(James verse 7), he will flee from you. God will be near you and you will know His presence. That’s when you can truly do all things through Him. You’ll be so in-tune with Jesus that you will be accomplishing His will in your life. Now that’s the life! Heaven on earth!
I thoroughly enjoyed those days. He was truly glorified and many people surrendered their lives to our Lord. I went through a lot of different trials during that time but it helped me to grow stronger in faith and in his presence. There was coming a time though that I will stupidly choose to do things my own way, but that’s for another time.
Drawing near to God is so worth it. Today I can’t do anything without Him. He’s there first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. Throughout the day we talk, in my mind, about everything, and so can you. Especially with the continuous chaos all around us, you need Him and His love, mercy, grace, and power. Submit to Him today, resist the enemy (Satan), draw near to Him and enjoy His presence.
Until the next time, may God richly bless you with all that you need. Have a wonderful week ahead!
The Way, Truth, and Life 