Day 12
Point to ponder: I'm as close to God as I choose to be.


Verse to consider: " Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you." James 4:8a(NLT) Here are some quotes I really liked from this chapter. " If you want a deeper, More intimate connection with God you must learn to honestly share your feelings with him, trust him when he asks you to do something, learn to care about what he cares about, and desire his friendship more than anything else." I think I've mentioned previously that trusting others is a tough thing for me. I catch myself treating God the way I would another sinful being. Why? I don't know. In my head I know God wants what's best for me and that He is the most trustworthy of all, but still I have a difficult time letting go and not taking back again. It gets me stuck in this rut of starting over again and again with him. I grow deeply in my relationship with him and then I seem to get disconnected and distant. Then I seek Harder and get connected again. And each time it's as if I have to start over relearning the same truths but each time I go a little further. Maybe this is some kind of learning style that works best for me or my personality type. Or maybe It's my own doing. I get bogged down with the cares of this world and don't make the time for Him that I should. I will seek Him for answers to this. I know He never leaves me.
" God doesn't expect you to be perfect, but he does insist on complete honesty..Tobe Gods friend, you must be honest to God, sharing your true feelings not what you think you ought to feel or say."
" Every time you trust God's wisdom and do whatever he says, even when you don't understand it, you deepen your friendship with God." " We are friends with God, but we are not his equals. He is our loving leader, and we follow him." Well I don't want to quote the whole book but These two stood out for me. I liked this one on p. 97 too. " God isn't offended when we 'wrestle' with him, because wrestling requires personal contact and brings us close to him! It is also a passionate activity, and God loves it when we are passionate with him." I just like to think of God this way. It makes him so tangible. I can identify with a God who likes passion and having personal contact with others.
Question to consider: What practical choices will I make today in order to grow closer to God?