Return to Me and Close the Gap

Photo courtesy of Google image

As some of you may know, I’ve just taken a bit of a vacation from my normal routine.  But changing my normal routine caused me to change my daily devotional time, and it was sometimes haphazard.  As I embraced more carefree activities, I neglected to spend as much time in Bible study. I began to feel like I was neglecting God. I certainly didn’t intend to do that.

There is a powerful draw of the world, the flesh, and the devil (See 1 John 2:16) even when we vacation.

But God has made it so easy for us as His children to close the gap between ourselves and Him.

Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.  Zechariah 1:3 b ESV

The apostle James tells us “Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you.” (James 4:8)

He will draw close.  He who is full of mercy and lovingkindness WILL draw close.

If we drift from God, He is happy to renew fellowship and a loving relationship with us.  He waits for our response to Him, and when we draw nearer to Him, He quickly closes that gap between us and Himself.

When we commit ourselves to pursue God, He will be found.  (See Jeremiah 29:14)

His presence can be powerfully real, and by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we can have a vibrant fulfilling relationship with our God.

Jesus said “Come to me….and I will refresh you.” Matthew 11:28(Douay-Rheims)

I took this picture while on vacation in Quebec City in 2011. 

Thank you for taking some of your time today to visit Write Moments with God.  I pray all is well with you and yours.  It's my pleasure to be back with you today.  May God bless you.

Your Strength is to "Sit Still" in Quietness and Confidence in GOD

A quiet shady place to sit still in my own backyard

Their strength is to sit still. Isaiah 30:7

I understand how not “sitting still” can wear a body out, as well as keep you from hearing from the Lord. My sister used to say to me, almost every time she came over, “Sit down! Can’t you ever be still?” I blamed my constant doing on the fact that I have six children. Well, most of the children have grown up and gone, and I still find myself too busy to be still.

When my Scripture reading led me to the words of Isaiah 30:7 last week, I sat quietly a few minutes to let them sink into my soul…and I listened.

Their strength is to sit still. (v.7)

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Isaiah 30:15

But, I’m in the process of doing my thing, ticking off the tasks on my to-do list, accomplishing some goal?  So what!  All of my striving can never take the place of God’s leading and His strength. I don’t want to be as obstinate as the rebellious children of Israel. 

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

God can accomplish His will in my life if I wait patiently on Him. 

Our strength comes when we humble ourselves enough to sit still in dependence upon God and in submission to His Holy will, which is far better and above anything we could imagine. 

I’d like to share a quote from one of my favorite devotionals.  This is from Oswald Chamber’s My Utmost for His Highest:

“It sounds so easy to talk about ‘resting in the Lord’ and ‘waiting patiently for Him’ until the nest is upset—until we live, as so many are doing in tumult and anguish; is it possible then to rest in the Lord? … Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself.”

So with my calendar full of visitors and day trips, birthdays and celebrations, I’ve decided to take a little vacation from the blog. I hope to “sit still” before God often and return to you refreshed and inspired with a new meditation on July 28^th.

The Church of the Most Holy Trinity ~ Augusta, GA

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.

Eileen DeCamp  will be receiving a signed copy of God,Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments. 

My sincere thanks to all of you who visited and commented on the blog last week. Your kind words and encouragement mean more to me than you will ever know.  Be blessed.