Drawing close to God

“‘Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8

No one but You, Lord, can satisfy the longing in my heart; 
Nothing I do, Lord, can take the place of drawing near to You.
Only You can fill my deepest longing,
Only You can breathe in me new life,
Only You can fill my heart with laughter,
Only You can answer my heart's cry.

Father, I love You – come satisfy the longing in my heart;
Fill me, overwhelm me, until I know Your love deep in my heart.
Only You can fill my deepest longing,
Only You can breathe in me new life,
Only You can fill my heart with laughter,
Only You can answer my heart's cry.

(Andy Park)

The above worship song reminds us that only God can meet the deepest needs of the human heart. Only He can fulfil our deepest longings. Only He can fully satisfy. And that’s what He wants to do, because He created us to enjoy intimacy with Himself.

During times when we’ve felt deeply touched by God’s love, or when we’ve been totally lost in worship, the connection we experience with God transcends anything that can be achieved elsewhere. Spiritual intimacy with God eclipses everything else, and that’s because God’s love reaches the most profound depths of our being, and, when we are in close fellowship and communion with God, we are fulfilling the very essence and reason for our design and existence.

Twenty-five years ago, Noel and Tricia Richards penned the following worship lyrics.

You are my passion, Love of my life;
Friend and Companion, My Lover.
All of my being longs for Your touch;
With all my heart I love You.
Now will You draw me close to You,
Gather me in Your arms;
Let me hear the beating of Your heart,
O my Jesus, O my Jesus.

Some of us might wince at the language of intimacy featured in this song, but this is the intimacy that we should deeply desire to have with Jesus – a profoundly life-affirming, soul-restoring and heart-refreshing relationship with Jesus which moves us in the very depths of our being. So, let’s embrace and surrender to the deep love which Jesus draws us into, and allow Him to be the Lover of our souls.

Prayer

“Father God, please draw us to gaze deep into the eyes of Jesus today, and may we be captivated and enthralled by His love and passion for us, so that all things of the flesh and the world are eclipsed by the glory and tenderness of that love. We ask in the precious name of Your Son and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!”

Ian Toone