Drawing Near To God In Meditation

 

"But it is good for me to draw near to God"

(Psalm 73: 28)

Said Spurgeon (emphasis mine):

“How can a man draw near to God?” someone asks. Well, we must begin thus. Draw near to Him by thinking of Him. God is not fixed in any one place so that we need to go on a pilgrimage in order to reach Him. “God is a Spirit,” and the way to draw near to a spirit is, first of all, to think of Him in our own spirit. I shall begin to have hope of any man’s salvation when he begins seriously to think about God, and about his own relationship to God. Will you do so, dear hearer? Take time to think about your Creator, your Preserver, your Provider, your Guardian, your Friend, your Judge, your Savior. To help you to think of Him, read His Word, for Scripture will both give you the best subject for thought and assist you to understand and know more of God." ("THE DOUBLE DRAWING NEAR" - here)

"Take time to think about your Creator"! Is that not what the song "Take Time To Be Holy" is encouraging all to do? That song says "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord," and "Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word," and "Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone."

How do we draw near to God? Is it not in our innermost thoughts? In our meditations upon him and his word? So the apostle writes: "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10: 22)

Again, the drawing near is in our "hearts," which includes the thoughts of it. Many passages speak of "the thoughts of the heart." (See Gen. 6: 5; Psa. 139: 23; Matt. 15: 19). There is also mention of "the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4: 12) Many think "heart" has to do with emotion alone, but this is wrong. The Greek word "cardia" may be used of the physical organ or of man's innermost being, where are his most inner thoughts and feelings.

To draw near or to come to God is to enjoy God's presence within a man's soul, mind, and spirit. This is described in many passages of scripture, such as Rev. 3: 20, where the Lord Jesus Christ says:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3: 20)

How and when does this supping occur in the inner man? Is it not in times when we are thinking about the Lord? Then, let us think less of carnal things and more of the spiritual.