How do I "Draw near to God"?

There are many things I'd like to talk about eventually. Like most people I have many different interests; healthy habits, gardening, raising children, quilting, and much more. Today, as I sit here sipping my coffee (a Trimmaccino actually, but that's another post for another day) and watching the birds at the feeders outside my front windows, I enjoy spending the first part of my day focused on God's word. Most mornings I read and write. At the end of last year, a friend invited me to join in a FB group that does a daily bible writing of scriptures. It's usually about 4 to 8 verses. I like to write (I mean phyically holding a pen and putting ink on paper - I am a pen and paper kind of girl!), so I thought I would try this. I have very much enjoyed this different way of taking in the Word. Writing is slower than just reading so my brain has more time to process the words. I have found it to be more thought provoking than any form of study that I've done in a while! Anyway, right at the first of the year, my husband found, printed, and offered our church family a daily bible reading schedule. I decided to take that on as well. I really like it. It is the 5 Day Bible Reading Schedule from www.BibleClassMaterial.com. If you follow this schedule you can read the whole bible in a year. This one is organized chronologically. I'm really enjoying it and feel I'm gaining great benefit from it.

We have much example in the bible of God's people reading from his word. God wants us to be his children, to follow Christ, to be Christ-like. We need to spend time in his Word if we are to accomplish these things. We need to pray and ask for God's help in all things. He promises this, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7. His answers come from his word. How can we obtain these promises if we do not go after the wisdom and understanding he offers? Yes, he says to ask, but he won't hand us anything on a silver platter; we must do our part. James 4:8a says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." God offers us much but he asks us to do something. He knows all, he knows our hearts, but he asks us to actively take part in this relationship. So do your part; study, pray, worship, serve; be like Christ!