The Bible declares that God is not far from any of us, but have you ever found that at times he can feel so far away? When a deep longing for God rises up within you, that insatiable desire becomes like gravity that causes the rain to fall.  

Acts 17:26-27  From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 

God knows that until we want him for real, we will be unwilling to let go of this world and its ways. Listen to what Jesus says: 

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 

One of the requirements of having a real and intimate relationship with God is the willingness to surrender to his love and grace so much that everything we want out of this life (i.e. houses, money, marriage, vacations, family, careers, etc.) pale in comparison to our desire for Him. The truth of the matter is, there is no real life outside of God! God is life! Everything that is pursued outside of God proves to be empty and hollow with only short-lived pleasure. If you want to experience the glory and ecstasy of intimacy with God you must be willing to surrender to his love without reservation. When his immense love becomes your reality, everything else in life takes a backseat! Jesus knew that friendship with the world causes separation from God, and he said, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33   

When seeking God becomes the genuine desire of our hearts, surrendering to his love and tender and compassionate will be center stage! Finding God is the result of letting go completely to let God complete you!  I am praying for you today. I’m asking God for an increase of genuine hunger to rise up within you so that you can experience his glorious reality because… 

HE IS NOT FAR AWAY 

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