Narrow To Near

There is nothing better than the presence of God. In Him is the fullness of joy, and in Him you will find everlasting life through Jesus Christ.

“Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel…Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs…after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel…So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water…Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?”…This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water…This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. You will overthrow every fortified city…The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.” 2 Kings 3:1-20

As often happens, the desire for more money led to making selfish decisions and mistakes in thinking. The king of Moab, Mesha, did not want to continue to pay tribute, so he rebelled and ruined his relationship with others around him. He chose padding his own pockets over living at peace with others. How is the desire for more money, or resentment over what you feel you are owed, impacting your heart or your relationships?

The critical decision that led to victory happened when the kings came together and sought God. This decision changed the course of history and led to their success. The answer to every prayer is found by seeking God’s presence. When the kings brought God all their drama, He said, “Do you not realize that it is an easy thing for Me to provide water and deliver you?” You see, our biggest problems always pale in comparison to the power of God. What we need is more of God’s presence. He holds the keys to victory.

“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalms 16:2-11

Do you ever wonder what made David a man of God’s own heart? This song is a window into the secret. David delighted in God and knew that God delighted in him. In this prayer, David did not focus on prosperity, an improved position, changed circumstances, or even deliverance from his struggles. Look at David’s prayer, as it reveals everything you need to know about his heart.

David had one desire, and that was more of God’s presence. He said, “It is Your presence, Lord, that satisfies my soul and is all that I ever need.” He said, “God, You are my portion and my prize.” He said, “In You, Lord, is the fullness of joy and the fruit of the Spirit.” What if this became our prayer every day? What if our prayer was not circumstantial but Christ-centered? What would happen if we simply prayed for more of God’s presence? Would we not receive more of His power, more of His peace, and a deeper personal relationship with Him?

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry…Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. The wise in heart accept commands…Whoever walks in integrity walks securely…The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life…Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth…What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. The fear of the Lord adds length to life…The prospect of the righteous is joy.” Proverbs 10:1-28

Wisdom tells us that everything good is a byproduct of drawing closer to God. Do you want more peace in your life? Create room for more of God’s presence. Do you want blessing and prosperity? Work hard, walk humbly, and stay on the faithful road. Wisdom says, honor the Lord with how you live and with a heart that loves Him, and the hope of heaven will lift you higher.

Solomon said that paying attention to how you speak gives insight into your heart. He said the words of the righteous nourish others and produce fruit. As we draw closer to God, He always redirects us to live out our calling. How will your words nourish others? How will the words of your mouth that find their way into the ears of others feed them? You cannot declare that you want to draw closer to Christ and still curse others.

“But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain…I will destine you for the sword…for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me…My servants will eat…my servants will drink…my servants will rejoice…My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts…See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people…for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:11-24

God gives us a choice. He calls out to all people, and to those who respond, He promises to lead them to a life of rejoicing. It is no accident that all these passages align and speak of the treasures that come from turning to God. In Him is the fullness of joy and all that you need to satisfy your soul.

He said, “I make all things new,” and His desire is that you would find the new life you have always desired. He wants you to know that He is not holding out on you but invites you to see that those who love Him will lack nothing. He wants to change our mindset from scarcity to abundance. He wants us to move from apathy to abiding. He wants us to know that He made us with a God-sized hole in our hearts that only He can fill. He said, “I know what you need, and I answer before you even ask.” What are you praying for today? Do you know that God has already answered? Do you know He already has a plan for you?

God said some people will not listen or turn to Him. He said those people will perish. He said they were destined for slaughter even though He had tried to save them. Why would anyone continue on the path that leads to destruction? What are the things that get in the way of drawing close to God? Are any of those things impacting you?

“Jesus answered…unless you repent, you too will all perish…Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’…Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ ““But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth…People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 13:2-29

Do you understand what Jesus just said? This is not an add-on passage but a warning about the way to everlasting life. He said it does not matter what you do if you do not love God. Going through the motions, doing good deeds, or giving generously cannot earn access to heaven. Everything Jesus talked about was relational. He taught that eternal life is found through His blood, a relationship with God, and daily life in the Spirit.

David understood what Jesus would later reveal. The greatest treasure is not simply doing things for God, but walking with Him every day. Our best days will be when we seek time with Him. Think of Mary and Martha. Martha was good at getting things done, but Mary chose what was good for her soul. This is not to say that hard work is unimportant. It is to say that the desires of your heart matter. Jesus delighted in how Mary’s heart desired Him.

The people in Luke 13 pointed to what they had done and thought that their performance would earn them a place in eternity. Jesus saw past their performance to hearts that did not actually pursue Him above all else. Right standing with God always begins and ends with a right relationship with Him. God is not inviting you to move through each day checking religious boxes or following a ritualistic checklist. He is inviting you into His presence to learn that He is your portion and your prize.

What do you want today? What are you praying for and pursuing? Are you seeking God’s favor more than His faithful presence? Are your prayers centered on changing your circumstances or abiding with Christ more deeply?

What would change if your greatest desire became simply to draw close to Him? The promise of Scripture is that when you seek Him, you will find Him. He said in Isaiah that as His people call, He will always answer.

Today, choose the narrow road that leads to the life found in nearness to Jesus. Make room for God’s presence. Sit with Him. Abide. Listen to His voice. Sing Him a song of praise. Delight in His goodness. As you draw near to Him, you will discover that He has already been drawing near to you. He alone is your best portion. He knows your heart’s desires and longs to fill you with the joy of His presence as you dwell with Him.