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Closer to Christ
How to Feel God’s Closeness
In “Closer to Christ”, Lesson 1, we learned “What to Say to God”. In Lesson 2, we learned, “How to Say It”. In lesson 3, we’re going to learn “How to Feel God’s Closeness”. We will also cover some ways to help you feel comfortable speaking with God.
Getting into the Throne Room
Can you guess what a “throne room” is?
- It’s a room with a throne in it.
- Kings have throne rooms. What do you think they do in them?
- They sit on their throne.
What do you think happens in a throne room?
- People come, bow before the king, and present their wishes.
Of course, God has the biggest and best throne room of all! It is the most important place in Heaven! Does God allow us to come into His throne room? Read the following to discover the answer.
(Hebrews 4:16), Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
When you pray, think of yourself being transported up-and-away into God’s throne room!
Imagine you are standing before a large, beautiful throne. Imagine God is sitting on it. Imagine you are this little thing standing in front of His feet.
God’s Word tells us when we pray, we actually enter here.
Experiencing His Closeness
Read the following to discover God’s desire for you to experience His closeness;
(Romans 8:15-16), For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
“Abba” is a way a child would call out to his or her father. Our Heavenly Father desires us to approach Him this same way and sense His closeness! Picture yourself bowed before His throne in utmost respect and awe and yet sense Him reaching out, lifting you up and bringing you into His embrace!
Another way to help you remember God’s desire to be close to you and for you to experience it, is to remember the close relationship the apostle John had with Jesus.
(John 13:23-25), Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
Like a child would lay their head on their father’s chest, not hesitating to feel his closeness, so it was with John being close to the Lord Jesus.
And then you have the account of the “prodigal son” showing again, God’s desire for us to experience His closeness;
(Luke 15:20), And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
God’s Word has many passages that show us this desire in God’s heart wanting to be close to us. Find the ones that really move you and then let faith take over. Your faith in these portions of the Word of God transport you into the reality of this closeness with the Father!
He will not do this for everybody! He wants to know you are not just making noise because you think you are supposed to.
Remember in our last lesson, do we get there by saying over and over;
“Our Father who art in heaven hollowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”
We do not get there by just making noise, saying the same things over and over again.
God must sense your interest. Your need. Your desire for Him to listen. Your love for others.
You must show passion or caring, honesty, faith, and respect!
“Father, I thank You that You are always glad to hear from me. This is amazing and I believe it with all my heart. And now, I want to tell You something.”
Now we have the King’s attention. Now we are leaning our head on His breast. Now we can talk to Him right up close!
Now we sense and experience the reality of these words that Jesus said concerning His desire for us to be near Him;
(Matthew 11:28-29), Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
(1 Peter 5:7), “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”
Find your quiet moments during such a busy day when you will be alone and not distracted. Try getting up one-half hour early and in those first quiet moments of the day before you do anything, engage in those moments of communication and closeness with your Heavenly Father. Some might think that it is hard to get up an extra ½ hour, but if you go to bed ½ hour earlier the previous night, you will find it very easy to do. Rise up feeling the anticipation of spending the most wonderful moment of the day knowing you are going to enter into God’s presence in this most special way. Be convinced in your heart that you need this quiet time with the Lord in order to face the rest of the day with all its pressure and challenges knowing that without Him, we can’t make it.
(John 15:5), I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Remind yourself that He is the One that puts meaning into the day. Without Him and knowing that we are doing what pleases Him, everything only amounts to nothing more than vanity as the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes found out. Let Him know you need Him in every breath and in every heartbeat.
And never doubt Jesus’ desire to always be close to you.
(Hebrew 13:5), For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.