Feb 3rd, 2024: Drawing Near...

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" - James 4:8–9

Our labor should reflect the spiritual condition of our hearts. When our hands are dirty, engaging in any work can result in a bigger mess. There needs to be an acknowledgment that our hands are dirty before we recognize the necessity to clean them. Just like parents instruct toddlers to clean their hands before a meal because the kids may not see the need for it.

Purifying our hearts can only occur through learning true humility. There's a sense of peace and tranquility when we humble ourselves in God's presence. Failure to do so leads to intense anger and defensiveness, drowning out God's voice as we raise our voices to dominate the conversation.

We have a six-month-old grandson whose smile and excitement melt our hearts whenever he sees us. We can spend hours with him without feeling the need to do anything else. Sometimes we wonder where God is, not realizing that He is always there, and His heart would melt with joy if we were excited about being in His presence.