Draw Near to the Heart of God :: By Nathele Graham

Sometimes it seems that peace is only a dream, something that is as hard to attain as trapping a sunbeam in a jar. The world is in turmoil, and everywhere we look, there’s a disaster happening. Earthquakes are getting stronger and causing loss of life, war is engulfing the world, and hatred is destroying people.

Where is God? He is still near to us, but it is people who have moved away from Him. Instead of drawing closer to His heart, we choose sin as a habit. Sin is what separates us from God and causes our lives to be in turmoil. As Christians, we are to be more like God. We cannot find peace in life until we allow God to rule our hearts. It isn’t easy, but it is the way to find peace in a world filled with turmoil.

There has never been true peace in the world since sin entered. Generation after generation has wanted peace, but on their own terms. Instead of drawing near to the heart of God, we want our own way. God’s heart is love. He sent His Son to be our Redeemer, but evil-hearted people rejected Him. God doesn’t want anybody to spend eternity parted from Him, but His desire is that everybody will choose to believe in Him.

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15).

Draw near to the heart of God in faith and find His peace.

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD

By Cleland Boyd McAfee

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

The Apostle Paul had a strong calling from God to spread the Gospel. Actually, every Christian is called to share the Gospel with everyone we meet. Paul did all that God asked of him, but it wasn’t always easy for him to share the Gospel. In spite of everything, He knew what he was called to do, and did it. He knew what God’s heart was. God loves no matter if we are tall, short, curly-haired, or bearded. He loves every skin color and nationality. He loves sinners who reject Him and wants all of us to repent.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

God’s hope is for all to choose salvation through Jesus. It is a choice, but those of us who have chosen life through Jesus must share that truth with the lost people around us. We are all sinners, but Christians are forgiven. When a person finally stops fighting God and draws near to Him, peace will follow.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Bad things happen, but knowing that God will use all things for good will bring peace. The murder of Charlie Kirk was an act of evil, but God is using it for His purpose. The memorial service was seen by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. The Gospel was preached, and Erika Kirk showed strength and faith as she publicly stated to the world that she forgave the one who murdered her husband. That’s what being near to the heart of God looks like. That forgiveness probably means little to the one who pulled the trigger, but Erika Kirk has found a place of quiet rest. May God continue to strengthen her.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.

When Jesus walked this earth, it wouldn’t have been easy to walk with Him. There were many hardships along the way and hard choices. Most who followed Him were Jewish men and women who risked losing family, friends, and status in the Temple just by associating with Jesus. After the crucifixion, following Jesus was a life-threatening choice. Peter, John, James, Andrew, and the rest gathered together for strength. Then Jesus showed up! He was right there with them all the time, but they weren’t aware of His presence until He greeted them.

We must spend time with fellow Christians. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Jesus is always with us, and when we gather together in His name, His presence is even stronger. You cannot have this comfort when you’re gathered with friends and family who reject Christ. That is, unless you are sharing the Gospel with lost friends and family. When Jesus sent men out to share His message, He never sent them alone. Christians need each other.

There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.

We also need time alone with Jesus. A time when we can pour out our heart to Him. Do you need His guidance in making a decision? Tell Him about it. Are you afraid of the future? His promises to never leave or abandon us is real. Have a quiet talk with Him and hear His voice. We all need time for prayer and Bible study.

If you hold onto your worries and fears, these will come between you and God. Even Jesus needed to be alone with His Father. When He was just starting His ministry, He went into the desert for 40 days and faced temptation by Satan, but was strengthened by the Holy Spirit. There were other times when He just needed to be alone with God the Father, for fellowship and to gather strength.

If we don’t have time alone with God, we tend to think we are in control of everything. It isn’t until we fully release our feelings to God that we can fully serve Him. That’s when peace and joy truly come to us.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

The closer we are to God’s heart and live life in His ways, the more joy and peace we will find each day.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

Know who Jesus was, and is. He is our Kinsman Redeemer. He redeemed us through His shed blood on the cross. Through Him, our sin is forgiven, and we can draw near to the heart of God.

How could blood that was shed nearly 2,000 years ago redeem us from our sin? Jesus was fully God (blood untainted by sin from His Father), and that qualified Him to redeem us from sin passed by human blood from father to son. His mother was merely human, which qualified Him to be our kinsman. Because God loves us in spite of Adam’s sin, He sent His Son to make a way to redeem us from the sin that separates us from God.

O Jesus, my Lord and my God, thank you for shedding Your blood for me. Please, Jesus, hold me tight as I wait for you to call me and all Christians Home to be with you forever. Until then, give me strength and courage to boldly serve You in love. Help me to draw near to Your heart.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus wants fellowship with us. Draw near to the heart of God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

[email protected]

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

The post Draw Near to the Heart of God :: By Nathele Graham appeared first on Rapture Ready.