Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. —James 4:8 (NAS)
For the last several years, I’ve attended church by myself and sat in the very back row of the sanctuary. I liked it there. It felt far removed, but distance gave me mental space in which to meditate on my relationship with God.
About a month ago a friend started attending with me, and she had no interest in my usual section. “Let’s sit in the front row,” she said. “I’d like to be up close.”
I’m a creature of habit and don’t like disruption to my routines. But I agreed, just once, to try the front.
And you know what? I had no idea what I was missing! Up close, you can see the passion on the musicians’ faces and feel their melodies resonating in your chest. The pastor makes eye contact with you during his sermon, and you feel like his message was written with your specific needs in mind. Moving closer helped me feel more engaged during the service.
This past Sunday, while sitting in the front row, it hit me that I often do the same thing in my relationship with God. I have a tendency to let space grow between us, not realizing what I’m missing out on, what I could gain by drawing closer to Him. The front row of a church service may not be for everyone, but in terms of our relationship with God, I believe it’s where He most wants us to be.
God, help me to abide ever closer to Your Word, Your will and Your way.
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