Day 199 - Prayer Draws Us Near to God

Emily Green


“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” - James 4:8 NLT

James 4 promises that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. I often hear people say, “God left me!” or “I just don’t know where God is!” My previous pastor loved to answer this question with, “God is right where you left Him.”

When we feel distant from God, it’s not because He moved. It’s because we moved. We didn’t “come close.” We didn’t “wash our hands” or “purify our hearts.” God is always with us, so if someone stepped away, it had to be us! However, when we pray, we take a step to come close to God and know He will come close to us!

If you feel distant from God today, take some time to pray. Welcome Him back into your life – you’ll find He never went anywhere in the first place.


Next Steps

  • Think about it: Have I felt distant from God?

  • Think about it: When was the last time I prayed?

  • Action Step: Take some time to “draw close” to God through prayer, reading your Bible, and worship today.