Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Close Enough

As I write this, our little beagle (and I use the word "little" in the loosest connotation of the word) is snuggled up close beside me.  If we are sitting down, Sparrow loves to be next to us, but not just close to us. . .absolutely as close as she can be.  She will wiggle her body until she is firmly pressed up against us.

Sometimes she positions herself in a way so that she is guarranteed of getting a good backscratch out of the deal.  Most of the time, however, she just loves being as close as she can be to whichever one of us she can snuggle next to at the time.  She loves this scenario and so do we.

This past Sunday I heard a preacher discussing how to know the Lord's calling in our life.  He said that if we are not sure what the Lord has called us to do, we don't have to figure it out.  We simply draw as close to the Lord as you we can and He will draw close to us. 

When we are very close to someone, it is easy to hear what they have to say to us, even if they speak with a whisper -- or a still small voice.  If we don't know what the Lord wants us to do, then we should get as close to the Lord as possible and we will hear His voice, just as Sparrow can easily hear every thing I say when she is close to me.

Also, when we are as close to someone as it is possible to be, it is very easy for them to lead us.  When Sparrow is on a short lead, I don't have any problem leading her.  When I give her a long leash, she tends to find more things to distract her nose and to keep her from wanting to go the way I want her to go.

So in those times we are wondering what the Lord is doing in our lives, and which way we should turn, let us draw as close to the Lord as we can, and we will more easily hear that still, small voice.  We will sense His leading and direction and we will more surely know His will for our lives.

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you."  James 4:8

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