Last month, I was studying Elijah and Elisha—prophets from the 9th century B.C. These men walked closely with God and, as a result, experienced His presence, power, and wisdom in incredible ways. As I read the history of their lives, I kept praying, “Lord, I want to know You like that. I want to understand Your heart, walk in Your ways, and reflect Your Spirit like they did. I want your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to ooze out of me (Galatians 5:22–23). And, I want to live with constant awareness of and dependence on You—the source of truth and life.”
I know God is eager to answer that prayer. After all, as He reminds us in Luke 11:13, if we who are imperfect know how to give good gifts to our kids, how much more will He, our good and perfect Father, give the best gift (more of His Holy Spirit) to us if we ask? Yet, I also know that getting more of Him isn’t a passive process. Just like I won’t get the defined abs I keep hoping for without actually doing crunches, Elijah and Elisha didn’t experience the closeness they had with God without intentional effort. They drew near to Him day by day—through prayer, time in His Word, and seeking His guidance. If I want to experience a similar closeness with Him, I need to do the same.
God promises that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). He invites us to abide in Him, and when we do, He promises that our lives will bear lasting fruit (John 15:5). As we prepare to celebrate Easter, I’m freshly reminded that my ability to draw near to Him is only because He first drew near to me. Jesus—God in flesh—came to restore what sin had broken—our close relationship with Him. He humbled Himself for our sake, died on the cross in our place, then rose again—conquering death and sin and making a way for us to enjoy a beautiful and right relationship with Him again.
I’m so thankful He drew near to me, saved me, and sent His Spirit to live in me. I may never get those abs I keep hoping for—but that relationship with God I’m hoping for? That’s a promise He’s already made good on. How do I know? Because He gave His life, rose again, and gave me His Spirit to prove it! So, I’m drawing near to Him with confidence, and I hope you will too. There is joy beyond measure in His presence, and He’s eager to pour it out on all who draw near!
By Katie Miller
For more blog posts by Katie Miller, click HERE
