Lessons on Finding & Fulfilling God’s Will – PART 5

This is PART 5 of the 5 PART Series titled “Lessons on Finding and Fulfilling God’s Will”.

Lessons on Finding & Fulfilling God’s Will (James 4:8) – PART 5

James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Years ago, a man got a job as a state worker with the DOT painting the yellow lines on the highways. The foreman took him to his starting point and told him to start here and begin painting in this direction. After a few days work, the foreman came to the man and had a talk with him. He said, “John, we need to talk about your work. The 1st day you did real well and you painted 3 miles of line. The second day you didn't do too bad, you painted 2 miles of line. John, I reviewed your work today and found that on the 3rd day you only painted 1 mile of line. What seems to be the problem?’ John replied, “Well sir, I’m not painting as much because I keep getting further away from the paint can.”
James gives us the Biblical prescription for having a close walk with Jesus.

4. We must draw nigh to God (James 4:8). “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
When it comes to the believer’s relationship with the Lord, God never says, "You have gone too far this time!" When we take one step toward God, we find He has been waiting for us to do so, and He will quickly come near to us. Luke 15:20, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” What a wonderful promise! As we seek to get close to God, He will draw close to us. God is always willing to come into closeness with us as we first seek Him. However, He requires for us to first initiate such action. It is called repentance. The inward witness of the Spirit is most clearly heard when you are quiet before Him in prayer. Prayer is like a clean windshield when you are seeking God's will. It allows you to see the road and the signs clearly without distortion or distraction. Prayer is like a rush of brisk air from a rolled down window. Prayer arouses your alertness to the signs. It brings the drowsy 'driver' back to full alertness. It is annoying to attempt to read a sign that is just a bit too far away, or to try to understand the words of someone who is slightly out of hearing range. The problem is distance. Distance complicates communication.

In relationships, time spent apart affects fellowship. When a couple is withdrawn from one other, not enjoying their marriage relationship with each other, this will inevitably lead to a lack of marriage communication. On the other hand, it is a pleasure to watch a couple who has grown in their love through the years. They communicate on a level unknown by couples who simply live at the same address. Often, one spouse can sense how the other feels about a matter without even having to ask. Such people are able to communicate with each other with the slightest squeeze of the hand, the smallest facial expression, or even a certain glance of the eye.

Such is the level of communion desired by the Lord, our personal Guide. He desires that our communion be so close that even the slightest glance of His eye will communicate His will to us. Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” This guidance is possible only when we are close to the Lord. When our degree of fellowship with Him is intimate so that we are walking by His side, then we will be aware of the slightest communication from the Holy Spirit.

Nothing compares or replaces closeness to the Lord. The closer you are to Him, the closer you will be to finding certainty in the knowledge of His will. If you cannot quite hear God's leading, draw a little closer to Him. Keep in mind, that as you draw closer to the Lord, He will draw closer to you as well (James 4:8).

An elderly couple was driving down the road one Saturday afternoon site seeing. The man’s wife began to reflect on their lives, and she said, “Henry, do you remember when we use to be closer than we are now. We used to communicate better; we use to show our affection for one another.” Henry replied, “I’m where I’ve always been, sitting in the same place, you’re the one that’s moved!”

Is there an obstacle between you and the Lord right now? Has a failure complicated your hopes of a healthy relationship with God? If you’re ready for reconciliation, Jesus has been waiting. He hasn’t given up on you. He is ready to welcome you and place you into service again. Don’t wait another day to tell Him how much you love Him.

Points to Ponder:
· If we do not have a close walk with the Lord, it is not His fault, but ours.
· He has not changed, moved, or pushed us away.
· We are the ones who change, move, and push Him away.
· Today, let us return to Jesus and began to have a closer walk with Him.

Questions to Consider:
· How’s your walk with the Lord today?
· Are you experiencing God’s presence, power, & purpose in your life?
· Do you feel like you are further away from God than you ever have been?
· Do you feel like there was a time in your life that you were closer to Jesus?

Prayer, Lord, I don’t want to wander away from You, but if I do, restore me. I long to remain faithful. Thank You for Your patience, timing, and toughness in restoring me, Lord. Lead me to a life of steadfast service to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for reading this 5 PART Series titled “Lessons on Finding and Fulfilling God’s Will”.

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