Getting Close to God Through Prayer

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing.(18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

If we are to truly draw near to God we must have a powerful prayer life and prayer itself brings power. Sometimes we might not feel like praying but those are exactly the times we should pray. God knows our hearts and every thought and intent of our heart.  Even when we don't know what to say God knows our heart and just having our minds tuned to Him allows the Holy Spirit to help us communicate with Him.

 

Prayer brings consecration and helps to insulate us from the temptations that are in the world ready to lead us away from Him and into sinful situations.

 

Prayer brings us victory.  Victory in the small things in life gives us confidence and increases our faith and then we begin to gain victory in the big issues in or lives.

 

Nothing in the world makes Satan tremble like the bended knees of God's children in sincere and earnest prayer.  If you would draw nearer to God then spend time in prayer.

 

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Getting Close to God By Attending Church

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some ; but exhorting : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

Attending church helps us grow near to God by being with others who also have a desire to grow spiritually. God's word is preached so that we might receive reproof and instruction as well as inspiration.

 

The Holy Spirit convicts and guides us to the truth from God's Word.  If the Bible is being preached you should be able to take something from the services that will help you have a closer walk with God all week.

 

You will find that you are encouraged by others that are also seeking a closer walk with God and it is great to know that there are many others in the same place spiritually as you are.

 

The world is becoming a darker place and a true Bible believing and Bible preaching church should be a place where you can find light.

 

If you would grow closer to God make sure that you are attending a scriptural New Testament Church on a regular basis.

 

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

Getting Close to God 1

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

 

In this verse of scripture we are told that if we strive to be close to God, he will draw us even closer to Him.  There are a lot of people who say they would like to be closer to God but they seem to want God to do the moving.

 

God doesn't change.  We, however, can change the way we live, the way we act, and the way we relate to God. Maybe it is time for us to consider what we need to do to help us to draw nearer to God.

 

The next few devotionals will deal with drawing nearer to God.  Before you read and study them I must warn you though, drawing near to God will change your life.

 

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

 

Jesus had compassion on the hungry multitude, both the physically hungry and the spiritually hungry.  We too should be moved with compassion.

 

We should have compassion for those less fortunate and do what we can to help them.  I am a firm believer that the welfare state in our country is a destructive force.  It is far more compassionate to give people a hand than it is to give them a handout.  I am not saying that there aren't times when we must charitably give to people. Many people find themselves in dire straits through no fault of their own.

I am saying how much more compassionate it is to teach someone to take care of themselves than it is to just take care of them.

 

We should be moved to minister to others.  Sometimes our compassion may lead us into a special ministry.  Visiting the elderly in a nursing home or working with disabled veterans are great ministries and all you need is a compassionate heart and some time.  Mentoring young people is a wonderful ministry, especially with so many without a proper family environment.

 

We should be moved by compassion for the lost.  It is easy to complain about the crime and all the sin in the world but what are we doing to help with the problem.  If we have compassion on the lost we will tell them about Jesus and His wonderful plan of Salvation.

 

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY GODLY FEAR

Acts 24:24-25  And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. {25} And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

 

We should be moved with conviction of the sin in our life.  Unlike Felix we should make things right with God at this time and not try to wait for a convenient season.  What could be a more convenient than right now.

 

Once we are moved by God to be convicted (strongly convinced of the seriousness) of our sins we should be moved to repentance.  We hear the word repent a lot.  What it really means is a change of direction.  Repentance should bring about a change of heart so strong that it cause a change of our direction.  Instead of moving away from God we will move toward Him.

 

The closer we move toward God, the closer we move to righteousness.  Righteousness can only be found and achieved through Jesus Christ.

Don't wait for a convenient season.  Move toward God now.

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY OUR FAITH

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 

We need to be moved by having faith in God's warnings.  When Noah built the Ark it had never rained before, a mist came up from the ground and watered the Earth.  Noah believed God's warning and built the Ark.  The whole human race was saved because Noah believed God was going to send a flood.  Only His family survived, therefore, we are all descendants of Noah.

 

We also need to be moved by faith in God's promises.  Just as with a warning, a promise will come to pass.  Many of God's promises are conditional.  If we really have faith we will accept the conditions.
Always remember that it is God's desire to bless you and for you to have the best.  He has let us know the way to have the very best through His promises in the Bible.  Sometimes it takes faith not to settle for what we think is good and lose what God says is best.

 

Email us atshilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT

Judges 13:24-25 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. (25) And the spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the
camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
2 Peter 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake moved by the Holy Ghost.

Sometimes we know the Spirit is moving us to speak to someone.  Maybe it is to share the gospel, maybe it is to encourage them, and maybe it is to gently rebuke them for some sin.  So often we struggle to keep from saying something when it is really time to allow the Spirit to move us to speak.
There are also times when the Spirit moves us to act and we do nothing.  We might be afraid or timid.  We might not want to make a commitment or there may be some other reason.  When the Spirit of God leads us to act we should act.  God will not lead us to do something that He will not help us do.

We should let the Spirit move us toward worship of God.  The best definition I have ever heard of Worship is : an overflowing adoration.  So many times we meet and sing, listen to the preaching, have an invitation and go home without ever worshiping.  If we are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit we will be drawn into worshipful experience.

Email us at
shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.