Near

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. - Psalms 145:18 NIV

Every time I travel, I get a thrill when the plane touches earth. Yes, I am grateful to be out of the air -- I don't enjoy flying all that much -- but the thrill is in reaching my destination. It means being that much closer to family and friends I haven't seen in a while; as I grow nearer to them, my joy increases. Mile by mile, foot by foot, my happiness builds to the point of my heart ready to burst with the thought of our reunion, and I've never been disappointed.

When we call on God in humility and faith, we experience the joy of his nearness. We don't need a plane or a car to reach him; all we need is to call on him; he is ever so close. Yet, as much as we delight in that reunion, God also rejoices. We are his children, and he is oh so glad to be with us. He desires to wrap us in a loving embrace and simply spend time with us.

God of nearness, we give you thanks for your unfailing love. We adore you and rejoice in the time we spend with you. Bless your children this day, and help us remember you are never far. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim