Drawing Near

  My speech communication professor once told my class that the way you communicate with others is rooted in the way you communicate with yourself. As someone who is bad at making plans in advance and even worse at texting back, thinking about this quote again caught me a little off guard. In thinking of others, people are so important to me and it’s no hard task for me to show love to all. What is difficult for me is to set aside the time to grow myself.

  “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.” - Jeremiah 17:7

  In looking back through my life, I can see how clear and constant the hand of God has been. While I know He is the one who carries me forward, it is when I spend the most time with Him that I really feel myself flourish. As my times of seeking God decrease, so does my peace, focus, and even my grades in school. It is no subtle change that I witness in these times. When I’m overwhelmed with other things, the last thing I want to do is sit down and try to read while my mind is distracted by a million different things. I feel as if my time is better served by worrying over my to-do list, which in turn pulls my mind even further from peace.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” - Psalms 1:2

   It’s the little, underrated things in life that remind me that I don’t have to overwhelm myself to put my relationship with Jesus as the priority. True, I sabotage myself from reaching my full potential when I deprive myself of seeking God in His written Word, but there is more than this. When I say little and underrated, I by no means mean to diminish the works of God. What I’m attempting to say is my mundane, human events can still reflect Christ and call me to delight in Him. The song on the radio, the words of a stranger, and a small glimpse of protection or favor are things around me that call me to focus my eyes, whether I realize it at the time or not. It is even my “thank you Jesus” after hitting three green lights in a row on a busy day, or change in attitude when I’m stressed that bring praise from the inside out.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” - James 4:8

   In seeking Christ, there are some things that are more difficult for certain people. God doesn’t always give us wisdom only when we need it. Sitting down and reading your Bible may be a nearly impossible feat for you, but that verse you read may be the exact words you need in two weeks. Giving thanks or prayer may be the most difficult things to remember, but leaving sticky note reminders may help you grow that skill in your life. We are not limited to one mode of pursuit or praise. We are given the room to express our love for Christ uniquely and in a no-less honorable way than the person next to us. How thankful I am that God gives us grace and room to grow, no matter where we come from.

With love,

Mary Kate