Live Close to Me

Live close to Me.

That phrase has hit me over and over again these past few days.  Too often, I judge my relationship with God based on whether or not I’ve had a quiet time that morning, or how much time I've been spending reading the Bible.  So maybe I didn’t go to church this weekend but my husband and I read the Bible and prayed together this morning, so I’m good, right??  I even read a devotional on my phone as I rode the metro to work--- I am such a good Christian.  If I’ve been to church that week or read my Bible each day, chances are I’ll consider my relationship with the Lord to be “good.”  If I missed church and have chosen to watch 30 Rock over spending time with the Lord on more than one occasion, I’ll think my relationship is edging towards “bad.”

There are many problems with my flawed perception.  This week, as my sweet hubby & I (along with my coworkers and all of his students) battle a persistent change-of-season cold/flu/unidentified illness, I am reminded of my dependence on my all-powerful Father.  When things are completely out of my control, particularly when I can barely keep my head up at my desk and have already sneezed exactly 33 times this morning (and counting), I am reminded of my own human-ness and my desire, no need, to live close to God.

A close relationship with God does not mean I clock in each day at a certain time for 20 minutes to sit before Him and read His word.  God doesn’t keep a grade book detailing how many Christian blogs I read each day or what percentage of the Bible I’ve completed.  God wants ALL of me… not a few minutes here and there to relieve my guilty conscience.  God wants me (and you) to live close to Him.  That means in all things, in ALL things, we come to Him.  Because of the Gospel, because of the sacrifice of Christ, we can come to our Lord at any time of day, in any condition, while we’re doing any activity.  We can talk to Him, praise Him, thank Him, ask Him, plead with Him, tell Him... all throughout the day.  That’s what He desires from us!

Be reminded of your (and my) continual need for Him.  Today I am reminded to “Cast [my] cares on the Lord and he will sustain [me]; He will never let the righteous fall.”

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

–Hebrews 4:16