By: Heather Patenaude
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
In college I went through a season of feeling very far from God. I was making choices in my life that were lending to this distance and there was very little peace, joy, or contentment in my heart.
One summer night God impressed on my heart the need to decided to be “hot or cold” for Him. My heart cried for the condition of my lukewarm heart. A verse that God used during this season was James 4:8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
It was that verse that caused me to realize that I was the one who had pulled away from intimacy with my Savior. I was the one making choices to defy Him. I was the one creating the walls. My sinful choices were the one causing the division with God. It was not Him. He was patiently waiting for me to return to Him with my whole heart. And even though I wasn’t living for God, He protected me and smothered me with grace through these few months of rebellion!
It was through the Holy Spirit impressing on me a deep need for confession and repentance that the “drawing near” to God began. Once I cleared my conscience with God and others, it revived my heart and passion for Christ that is still with me till this day.
Since that time in my life God has given me a deep desire to maintain a closeness with Him and that requires a daily “drawing near” to Him. It’s making time for Him, for His Word, for prayer, and for fellowship with other believers. It’s also requires a softness to the Holy Spirit and letting Him point and prod at my areas of sin.
This month, as we take sometime away from some “spiritual junk food” ask that God will reveal any areas where you are not “drawing near” or surrendering to Him. What is He asking you to give up to secure deeper fellowship with Him? Are there any areas of reconciliation or forgiveness that need to take place? Is there a relationship that needs to have more boundaries?
Don’t forget to join us on the Holy30 Event on FB. Share with others how God is using this challenge in your life!
HEATHER PATENAUDE is passionate about living a Christ-centered life. This passion flows over to being a wife to John and a homeschool mom to: Miles 8, Luke 7, and Clark 4. Heather is “doing” motherhood right along the side of most of you and hopes that she can encourage you to look beyond your “bath time” challenges and embrace the beautiful calling of motherhood!