“God never made salvation dependent upon new moons or holy days or Sabbaths. A man is not nearer to Christ on Easter Sunday than he is, say, on Saturday, August 3, or Monday, October 4. As long as Christ sits on the mediatorial throne, every day is a good day and all days are days of salvation.” – The Pursuit of God, AW Tozer
When do you find yourself closest to God? Is it a time of day, a certain place or maybe a holiday or a season or when you are with a certain person or sitting in church? Can you tell when you feel close to Him? Can you explain it to someone else what you experience when it happens?
I used to feel close to God when I was emotionally in a good place. The better I felt, the more I felt His presence. Logic would support this. Then one day in 1997, while on a train to Chicago, God explained to me that faith is not an emotion, it is a fact. No matter how I was feeling or what circumstances I was facing, it had nothing to do with who God was.
Hebrews 11:1
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
At first, I was disappointed to find this out. I liked the feeling of being close to God. It was a good emotional experience. However, the more I began to think about it, the clearer it became. By using emotion, or time of day or season of the year or any other means to feel closer to God, the more it meant that I was determining how the relationship was going to go and I was governing God’s power by my limitations. The better my emotions or environment were, the more powerful God appeared to be.
Yet when I remove myself from the control seat, put my faith in the facts of who God is, a transforming power of God begins within me. As I read scripture, my heart is encouraged, comforted, separated from my emotions or surroundings. His word takes control of my life. In the midst of a chaotic world, I can find peace. In the depths of uncertainty, I am planted on solid ground. In the darkest moments, I can see light.
I began to feel the freedom of knowing that God’s greatness had nothing to do with me. He was, is and always will be great in every minute of every day of every year, in good times and in bad, in struggles and in peace, in wealth and in poverty. God is God.
What does this mean for us? It means that 24/7, 365 days a year, we can be close to God. We can experience God the same way on Christmas as we do on Saturday doing chores. Don’t believe me? Stop what you’re doing this very moment. Reach for your bible or get on your knees, or simply close your eyes and begin to seek Him wholeheartedly. He will take you beyond your emotional capacity and transform your heart, mind, and soul. The world around you will shrink in size. Elections, World Series, the economy, ISIS, or protests in the streets will all fade away.
Need some help? Try reading this psalm over and over again and see if Christmas doesn’t show up today!
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Just a Thought…
