Needing His Nearness

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:6-8).

How many things have we allowed

To come between us and the Lord?

How many times have we been proud,

Until by God we are restored?

How much we need the nearness of

Our God and Savior Jesus Christ!

When we submit to Him in love

We are not then by sin enticed.

As we are drawing near to God

We see our need to then be pardoned.

We recognize that we are flawed

With hearts insensitive and hardened.

We see our need to cleanse our hands

And come with hearts thus purified.

We draw near now as God commands,  

And we have put away our pride.

The devil now at this point flees,

For God our Shepherd spreads a table

Within the midst of enemies,

And shelters us, for He is able.

There is a joy in drawing near,

With which this world can’t compete,

Where perfect love will cast out fear

And God will with His children meet.

Lord, draw us to this sacred place

Where we lose sight of all but You.

We come now, beckoned by Your grace,

As You draw near to meet us too.