How many close friends do you have? Do you enjoy spending time with those friends that you feel very close to? Have you ever thought about how those friendships and began and how they have developed over the years? I daresay that any close friends of yours would be persons that you have spent a considerable amount of time with in building that relationship.
Close friendships just don’t happen without an investment of time. The same is true with a close relationship with God. It does not happen overnight. It occurs with an investment of time in God’s word and meditation in your heart about that relationship. Have you seriously thought about how much time you are investing in that close friendship with God? Just as we all like to have friends and spend time with our close friends, we need that same desire in our relationship with God. To be near to God, we must foster the relationship.
Psalm 19:14–May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 49:3–My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
Psalm 104:34–May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.
Oh, to be nearer to God!
1. Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3. There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given; angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5. Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Text: Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848 Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872
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