Today’s Affirmation: My God is near… and far.
My God is near was my original take on this affirmation. I just wanted to go with those four words, those eleven powerful letters…MY GOD IS NEAR.
Yes He is but He reminds us here that He is both near and far. Today’s affirmation was harvested from Jeremiah 23:23 where God says “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?
Jeremiah is an amazing book in the bible and God is speaking with him about the evil people that Israel had turned into. Chapter after chapter God voices His displeasure of His people turning to the many gods of the world and their own evil desires. Sound familiar? We are no different today than those scoundrels; so easily led astray.
I love the feeling of knowing He is near. Of course He points out that He is also far and can see all things. That’s ALL things. Hmmm, now that’s a little too near. In 23:24 God says “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” OUCH, even my secret places? Yes, even my secret places.
Here is the crazy part. Yes, He has seen all of my sins, my drunkenness, and my self seeking idols…ALL of it. AND He still loves me. Just like the people who he sent away to Judah for their wretched behaviors. In Jer 24:6 God says “My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.”
Although we have traveled far from Him, He will bring us back to the land He has prepared for us and build us up. Is that not just beyond our understanding? It is beyond mine.
In Jer 24:7 He says, “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”
Bingo, He sees me from afar and sees my evil ways but HE GIVES ME A HEART TO KNOW HIM. He is my God and I am His. Yes, praise God you are near today. God help me to return to you with ALL my heart.
1. Which perspective is most dominant with you today; the God who is near or the One who is far away?
2. Do you really feel He loves you after seeing ALL of your actions?
3. God is calling us, can we return to Him with ALL of our heart?
4. Thank Him today for giving us a heart to know Him and for drawing us near.
My God is near (and far), is yours?
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations4Life
if he wasn’t both to me I would have nothing. Spell that N-O-T-H-I-N-G! I am not referring to “things” but I would have nothing, be nothing, amount to nothing. Thanks for reminding me of this today.
Bill, thank you. Great way to speak that. I am nothing without Him. Absolutely, thank YOU for reminding me of that. He is stong.
Beautiful, Tom. Your writing is such a ministry.
Thank you Julie, you are such an encouragement to me. I have begun this not knowing where He is guiding me. I pray to be faithful to the call. Your word ministry spurs me on.
As you beat yourself up for your past, someone once said, The same amount of grace that it took to get you out of certain situations kept me from going to those places. We are all have received God’s wonderful grace. Your writings are such an encouragement to me. Right now my son’s house is being flooded there in Nashville. Matthewcostner.com I know God is near and far in this situation. Pray we know how to deal with this situation. So hard.
Patsy, I am praying for your son and others in Nashville. I am actually in Nashville now. I drove up yesterday morning for a short business trip and saw some of the devastation yesterday in my travels. May we as a body reach out and help those in need in prayer and in deed.
Thank you for your faithful encouragement it has been such a source of strength for me. Praying for Matthew!