Garwood Presbyterian Church

How to be Close to God

Practicing the Presence of God

Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 46:10, Rev. 3:19-22

Introduction: God asks, "Who is the one who will devote themself to be close to me?" Jer. 30:21

1. How Can We Be Close to God?
   1. Through prayer = we talk to God.
   2. Through studying the Bible = God talks to us.
   3. Through worship - the primary way.
   4. But there are other, less obvious ways that enable us to be close to God.
2. By Repenting
   1. We don't like this and resist doing it, but it works!
   2. Revelation 3:19
   3. James 4:8, 10
   4. Jesus and Matthew 5:8
   5. I John 3:24
   6. Repentance works because "The wages of sin is death." = separation from God.
   7. What you need to repent of is between you and God, and you most likely know what it is!
   8. The real question is - will you do it?
   9. Remember that the reward of repentance is that you will be closer to God
3. Through Meditation
   1. Meditation combines reading Scripture and prayer, where we chew on God's Word and spend time with it until it seeps into our soul.
   2. Besides using the Bible, we can use something like The Daily Bread for this.
   3. We might want to record our insights of God's Word to us in a journal.
4. By Listening to the Voice of God
   1. Revelation 3:20
   2. Revelation 3:22
   3. The art of listening to God.
      1. Anthony and other early Christians learned the importance of a) stopping our external busyness, b) in order to stop our internal busyness, c) so that we become quiet and still in side of ourself, d) so that we can hear the Spirit of God inside of us.
      2. We need to learn from them and do the same thing ourself.
      3. This is not easy, but the reward is that it will bring us closer to God.
5. By Experiencing God Himself
   1. Psalm 46:10
   2. We need to "Let go and let God."
      1. Sit or lay down so that you are comfortable.
      2. Let go of whatever is stressing you out, bothering you, worrying you, and that you are carrying.
      3. Let God have it. Give it to Him. Trust Him with it because of His love, sovereignty, and power.
      4. Now rest in God's love, experience His peace, enjoy in His presence.

Conclusion: Will you devote yourself to being close to God? If you will, then besides using prayer, Bible study and worship, also practice repentance, Christian meditation, listening to the voice of God within you, and experiencing God Himself.