Drawing Near

As a child if I had done something wrong, those steps toward my Mom were slow and unsure. Not because of her anger, but because I had disappointed her. Every step felt slow.

That’s what James is talking about here. He was writing to believers who were struggling, arguing, drifting,m. And instead of pushing them away, he gives them a simple invitation: Draw near to God.

Notice what he doesn’t say.

He doesn’t say, “Fix yourself first.”

He doesn’t say, “Be better.”

He says, Draw near.

We move toward Him because we know He is merciful. And as we step toward Him, we discover He is already moving toward us.

You step.

He steps.

You move.

He moves.

James talks about cleansing and purifying. But that comes after drawing near. When we come close to God, we start to see what no longer belongs. “Cleanse your hands” means our actions matter. “Purify your hearts” means our motives matter too. But this isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s about letting His closeness change us.

Drawing near is not dramatic. It may be a whispered prayer, a redirected thought, a quiet pause in the middle of your day.

I want to ask myself:

Where is my attention divided?

What would one small step toward God look like today?