Wrestling with God, my Father, and his word. He gives me an invitation. “Come, daughter. Come closer.” Only to be followed by the enemy’s attack. Discord. Lies. Heaviness. Confusion. Isolation. Then busyness.

So the question. How? How do I come closer?

Stopping. Resting. Listening. Nagash. The Hebrew word for draw near. Close enough to touch.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Without pride. Without arrogance. Without wrong motives. Seeking wisdom. Learning how to pray. What to pray. God, you called your people, but they would not come close. Jesus. You longed to gather your people, but they would not come. (James 4:8, Deuteronomy 5:5, Matthew 23:37)

We were once far off. Now, in Jesus, we’ve been brought near. Once strangers, foreigners. Now citizens, family. (Ephesians 2:13,19)

Father, let me have a heart that desires to come closer. A heart fertile, plowed, prepared, ready to receive. Let me draw near and worship with my heart, not just my mouth and lips. In Spirit and in Truth. Approaching the Throne of Grace. Receiving mercy. (John 4:24, Isaiah 29:13, Hebrews 4:16)

Like Mary at your feet, Jesus, choosing what is better. (Luke 10:39,42) Thank you that I can come. Listen. Learn. Love.

Jesus, you call us. Come to me. Weary. Heavy laden. And I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

No rules. No restrictive laws.

God’s Spirit gives freedom. And as outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For the good news the Father has for us might be foolishness to the world, to the lost, to those who are perishing. But to us who come, it is His power. His life. For truly Jesus came to give us life. Abundantly. Full. Overflowing. Satisfying. (2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 1:8, John 10:10)

So come. Come closer.