I was talking with some friends about the way we approach God.
Some described how, at times, they have felt the need to apologise to God for bothering him.
As if he was too busy to handle the requests of all his children.
This is one of the mysteries about God.
How exactly can he love the whole world, individually, all at once, in the way that he does?…
But the Bible does reassure us that God is a God of intimacy – one who draws close to us despite our sin and his incredible holiness.
He even takes up residence within us – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, changing us from the inside out.
When we feel distance from God it really is our own doing.
We walk away.
We choose other gods.
We feel shame.
We don’t feel like drawing close to him.
Psalm 139 is a rich, beautiful passage which describes how God surrounds us, protects us, knows us – even though we don’t claim to know him.
It describes how we try and run from the light that is our Creator God:
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
I tried to hide from God once – I mean, really hide.
But his light found me.
This passage reminds me darkness is no barrier for God.
His mighty light will certainly penetrate it, no matter how black and dirty and shameful it is.
He sent his son Jesus to wash it away after all.
And Jesus knows the temptations we struggle with.
He had them too.
Hebrews 4:15 says:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.”
In sending Jesus, God showed that he is not remote from suffering, sin, and darkness.
He entered in as a perfect man, paved the way back to the Father, and paid the price our sins deserve.
Verse 16 continues:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
God is sitting on his throne – yes.
He is powerful, majestic, holy – the King of the whole world.
He will not be mocked.
But he’s also a God who enters into our lives and hearts – intimately.
He’s a God who invites us to approach him – not hesitantly, but confidently.
We can know – without a doubt – that grace will be found in the seat of that throne.
Grace to help us – grace to heal.
And a love that will outlast every other.
It's a God thing... 
Great post…pray with boldness! He wants to hear from us. 🙂
It’s good to remember isn’t it Brian? So thankful God has an open door policy!
Absolutely!!
Great post!
My observations in dealing with skeptics that doubt that God can do what He does is that they simply want to make God in to a human, with our limits and capacities. And in doing so, they limit God’s power because they can’t comprehend how awesome God really is, so they don’t want to let God be God! If God was small enough to be completely understood & known by humans, then He would be too small to be the All loving, All knowing, All powerful, Omnipresent, Omniscient, God that He is!
I don’t even know if this is relevant to your post, but that is what came to my mind as I was reading it.
Yes, it’s true… Great comments. So often we try and box God up into human-size proportions, which, as you say, diminishes his power in our eyes too. So thankful that he is who he is, regardless of what we think about him.
It made me think of a scenario if one of my kids approached me “sorry to bother you mom” I would feel so sad… So, now I will hopefully think of Him being excited to hear from me! Thanks Ali!
That’s a really good parallel Denise. It’s so wonderful to know God delights to hear from his children! Nothing is too small or significant to discuss with him 🙂
It is so good that our God wants us to share our lives (and burdens) with him!
It’s so good to remember isn’t it Janna 🙂 We are his delight!
His Word is a love letter for us to remind us of His great love for us. Beautiful message and thanks for sharing! May God bless you!
Beautifully said Channa! So grateful for His word, which reminds us of his love when we doubt it.
Thank you for dropping by to encourage me 🙂
Well GodGirl, you are a breath of fresh air as well as an inspiration to your generation who are indeed searching for other gods.! What a lovely post full of hope! Blessings,
Thanks so much Ellie!
It’s so easy to put other things before God isn’t it. May we continue to stay firmly planted in Him and His truth 🙂
God’s judgment is Great and Perfect but His Mercy is even Greater.
This post makes me think of my post titled “Fake Grand Canyon”, if I could give your post 100 thumbs up I would.
Sometimes I wonder if other Christians have conversations(you know dialogue) with Yahweh the way I do. Some of them talk like they are not very intimate with Him. Like He’s off in the corporate office and doesn’t actually live with them. He enters their home only when they are on “a conference call” with Him talking “business”.
I can’t have that type of relationship with Him. I need His hugs and kisses.
P.S. – Just realized this is a post from 2014, but found it in my reader list due to someone making a comment yesterday. Glad they did. Not always able to read all past posts when one starts following someone. So, again, glad I was shown this post.