nearness

last night in the dark i thought about the usefulness of sending emails, and even doubted whether i should do it anymore… but this morning, the sun has risen bright on a gorgeous day. as the heat escapes my coffee, i write to encourage all my friends. and in this, i find encouragement, too.

the psalmist describes my desire for God very well, “when my heart was embittered and i was pierced within, then i was senseless and ignorant; i was like a beast before you…whom have i in heaven but you? and besides you, i desire nothing on earth. my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…the nearness of God is my good; i have made the Lord God my refuge, that i may tell of your works.” psalm 73

the nearness of God is my good.

Father in Heaven, it is my prayer to know your nearness, to know that i am in your will, to look past circumstances to trust in you. help me to rest in your grace that says i am loved even though i am ignorant, senseless at times, imperfect, so far from arriving. help me to see every little thing i do as part of my relationship to you. i pray for my friends, too, thanking you for each one. help them to follow you in the security of your acceptance, through your promises and not their own concept of worthiness. i pray you would speak to each one in an intimate, recognizable way, protecting each with your blood, each child from fear, each heart from condemning itself.

teach us how to cling to you, teach us how to be weak so that you can be strong. teach us how to listen to you and not our own imaginations. teach us how to accept each encounter and circumstance as from you… facing and living in each day, alive in you, not sleeping, dead or avoiding… we will never see perfectly until we are with you. cleanse us from prideful self-justification, and clear away holy space in the inner, secret place, for your filling, powerful Love. Jesus, be our refuge. be near to us today.

“…a woman named martha welcomed him into her home. she had a sister called mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

but martha was distracted…she came up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? tell her to help me.’ but the Lord answered and said to her, ‘martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’” luke 10

whether sitting at his feet, desiring, or pierced within, bothered about so many things,

may the nearness of God be our good today.