Bible Reading: James 4:7-10

"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you."

James 4:8

SO HOW do you get even closer to God than you are now? Try these ideas:

•   Ride an elevator to the top floor of a skyscraper.

•   Work hard and become an astronaut.

•   Climb Mount Everest.

•   Walk around on stilts.

Just kidding. Getting close to God isn't about getting physically closer to the heavens.

You want to get closer relationally. Here are a few steps you might want to consider:

First, think of God as someone who wants to be your incredibly close friend. If you ever think that God isn't interested in you or doesn't have time for you, whack those thoughts right out of your head. They aren't from God. He loves you and wants to get as close to you as you let him.

Second, spend time with God. That translates into the nitty gritty activities of reading his Word and talking to him in prayer. When you pray, tell God about your fears and hopes. Thank him for loving you and wanting to be your friend. Confess your sin and ask him to help you get closer to him by doing the things that please him.

Third, make it your habit to attend church services. You pull close to God through worship. Worship is a whole host of activities: singing praises to God with other Christians, talking to him, thinking about him, remembering how much he loves you and what Christ did for you, and learning from his Word. Okay, so your church's wor­ship services might not be the most appealing to your student tastes. You might gag at the music, and the service might seem planned only for adults. But focus on Scrip­ture, the main point of the message, the words of the songs, and fellowship with your Christian friends. If you skip worship services, you miss one of your greatest opportu­nities to get closer to God.

Your key is found in James' simple words: "Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you" (James 4:8). With every step you take toward God, he takes a gi­ant stride toward you. You can't get closer to God just by fitting a few "Christian" things into your life. But you can get closer to him by asking him to help you get to know him better.

REFLECT: How are you trying to get close to God? Does anything need to change?

PRAY: Celebrate the fact that God wants to be your incredibly close friend.