NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD...!

"Call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa 55:6).

'Calling upon God while He is near' is, being receptive to His Word and correcting our lives according to His counsel, when He speaks to us. If we live close to God in times of troubles and trials, we will be able to boldly testify along with the Psalmist - "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

"What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?" (Deut 4:7). If today you life is far away from God, far away from His presence, far away from His love, far away from His grace, far away from his power, and far away from His goodness, when you face a trial or trouble you will find God far away from you.

"There is a place of quiet rest;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where sin cannot molest

Near to the heart of God,

There is a place of comfort sweet;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where we our Saviour meet,

Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God."

When your heart is far away from God there is no satisfaction, no rest; life will be bitter, empty, dark, filthy and dry.

May the Lord help us to live very close to Him so that, in our troubles, we may have the joy of experiencing our God as a very present help.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna