“Draw Near To Me” - Matthew Zimmer
Day 1:The Initiative of Drawing Near
Devotional
Our relationship with God operates on a beautiful promise: when we take the initiative to draw near to Him, He responds by drawing near to us. This isn't a distant, impersonal deity who remains aloof—this is a loving Father eagerly waiting for us to turn toward Him. But what does drawing near actually look like? It begins with a decision—a choice to prioritize our relationship with God above the countless distractions competing for our attention. It requires intentionality in creating space for Him in our busy lives. Drawing near isn't just about physical proximity or religious routines. It's about approaching God with a contrite heart—one that is honest about sin, single-minded in devotion, and genuinely remorseful when we fall short. It's about treating our relationship with Him with the seriousness it deserves. Today, consider what steps you can take to draw nearer to God. Perhaps it's setting aside dedicated time for prayer, engaging more deeply with Scripture, or simply sitting in His presence with an open heart. Whatever form it takes, remember that your movement toward God never goes unnoticed. He sees every step you take in His direction and responds with His presence.
Bible Verse
"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." - James 4:8
Reflection Question
What practical step can you take today to draw nearer to God, and what might be holding you back from taking that step?
Quote
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your promise to draw near when I seek You. Help me to prioritize our relationship above all else. Remove any barriers that keep me from approaching You with a sincere heart. I long for Your presence today. Amen.
Day 2:The Refining Process
Devotional
God's desire for intimacy with us is so great that He doesn't leave us as we are. Like a skilled refiner of precious metals, He works to purify our hearts so we can hear His voice more clearly and reflect His character more fully. The refining process for gold involves intense heat that brings impurities to the surface where they can be removed. Similarly, the Holy Spirit—like that refining fire—reveals areas in our lives that hinder our communion with God. These might be attitudes, habits, relationships, or priorities that don't align with His purposes for us. While God provides the revealing fire, we play an active role in our sanctification. We must cooperate with the Spirit's work by acknowledging what He shows us and taking steps to remove those impurities. This partnership between divine revelation and human response is at the heart of spiritual growth. The goal isn't punishment but purification—not to shame us but to shape us into vessels that can contain more of His presence. When we invite God to search our hearts and show us what needs to change, we're participating in this refining process that ultimately leads to greater intimacy with Him.
Bible Verse
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." - 1 Peter 5:6
Reflection Question
What area of your life is the Holy Spirit currently highlighting that might need to be "scraped away" to draw you closer to God?
Quote
The fire is the Holy Spirit, right? The fire is God. I want more of you. Show me something in my life to get rid of God. I want more of you. Make me a contrite heart so I can feel your presence.
Prayer
Lord, I invite Your refining fire into my life today. Show me the impurities that are hindering our relationship, and give me the courage to let them go. Thank You for loving me enough not to leave me as I am. Make me more like You. Amen.
Day 3:Clearing the Channels
Devotional
Hearing God's voice clearly requires open channels of communication. Just as radio signals can be disrupted by interference, our spiritual receptivity can be hindered by various obstacles. One major hindrance is the constant noise and busyness of life that prevents us from sitting quietly at Jesus' feet. When we're always on the move, always connected, always consuming content, we leave little space for God's still, small voice to break through. Another obstacle is competing voices—especially from our screens. The hours we spend scrolling, watching, and gaming aren't neutral; they shape our thinking and capture our attention in ways that can drown out God's voice. As the sermon pointedly asks: "If you pull up your screen time on your phone and I see a number that's above a two, that's a high number. Is this more important than God?" An unprepared heart also hinders our ability to hear God. Like soil that needs cultivation to receive seed, our hearts need regular tending through spiritual disciplines. And finally, unaddressed sin gradually hardens our hearts through small compromises that accumulate over time. Identifying these hindrances is the first step toward clearing the channels so we can hear God more clearly.
Bible Verse
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." - Hebrews 3:13
Reflection Question
Which of these four hindrances (busyness, competing voices, unprepared heart, or sin) most affects your ability to hear God clearly right now?
Quote
Sin does not jump out at you with a big glowing red light and say, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing. I'm bad news. You're on the railroad tracks and I'm coming headfirst at you with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me identify and remove the obstacles that block Your voice in my life. Give me wisdom to recognize distractions, courage to address sin, and discipline to prepare my heart to receive Your word. I want to hear You clearly. Amen.
Day 4:Setting Your Spiritual Thermostat
DevotionalCreating an atmosphere where we can consistently hear God's voice requires intentional effort—much like setting a thermostat to maintain a desired temperature. A thermostat doesn't just respond to current conditions; it actively works to create the environment you've programmed it to maintain. In our spiritual lives, we need to "set our minds and keep focus habitually on the things above." This isn't a one-time decision but a continuous recalibration of our priorities, attention, and affections toward God and His kingdom. Maintaining this spiritual temperature often requires sacrifice. We may need to adjust our sleep schedules to create morning quiet time, limit leisure activities that consume our attention, or rethink commitments that crowd out our relationship with God. As the sermon reminds us, "Your extracurricular school activities, they don't have precedence over God." Just as an air conditioner works overtime to maintain a cool temperature on a hot day, we sometimes need to work overtime to keep our spiritual focus sharp when life heats up with demands and distractions. The effort is worth it because the atmosphere we create determines our ability to discern God's voice and direction.
Bible Verse
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12
Reflection Question
What specific adjustments might you need to make to your daily routine to better "set your thermostat" toward spiritual things?
Quote
Set your mind and keep focus habitually on the things above, the heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth.
Prayer
Lord, help me to set my mind consistently on things above rather than earthly concerns. Show me what adjustments I need to make in my schedule, habits, and priorities to create an atmosphere where I can hear You clearly. May my spiritual thermostat be set on seeking You first. Amen.
Day 5:The Power of Humility
Devotional
At the heart of drawing near to God is a posture of humility—recognizing who He is and who we are in relation to Him. Humility isn't thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less, shifting our focus from self-reliance to God-dependence. True humility acknowledges our limitations and weaknesses without shame. It recognizes that we weren't designed to navigate life in our own strength or wisdom. Instead, we were created to live in constant communion with our Creator, drawing from His unlimited resources. When we humble ourselves before God, something remarkable happens: He promises to exalt us at the proper time. This isn't about public recognition or status; it's about God working through our acknowledged weaknesses to display His glory. As the sermon notes, "God has given each of us gifts and abilities. Where those fall short is where the grace and glory of God shows up." Humility also means surrendering our timetables to God's perfect timing. We often want immediate results, quick fixes, and instant spiritual growth. But God works according to His schedule, not ours. "When you try and make it happen on your timetable, it ain't gonna happen." Today, embrace the freedom that comes with humility—the release from having to be sufficient in yourself and the joy of depending on God's unlimited strength.
Bible Verse
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10
Reflection Question
In what area of your life do you most need to surrender control and embrace God-dependence rather than self-reliance?
Quote
Humble yourselves with an attitude of repentance and insignificance in the presence of the Lord. That's a heart posture. I am not greater than God. I am not God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You today. Forgive me for the times I've relied on my own strength and wisdom instead of Yours. I acknowledge my limitations and welcome Your power to work through my weaknesses. Help me to wait patiently for Your timing rather than forcing my own agenda. Thank You for the promise that when I humble myself, You will lift me up. Amen.