“Draw Close to God” 7 James encouraged us to remember Jehovah when he urged us: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) Jehovah is the Creator, the heavenly Sovereign, worthy of all worship and praise. (Revelation 4:11) Yet, if we draw close to him, he will draw close to us. Does not such loving interest warm your heart?—Matthew 22:37. 8 We draw close to Jehovah in a number of ways. For example, the apostle Paul says: “Be persevering in prayer, remaining awake in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2) In other words, cultivate the habit of praying. Do not be satisfied with merely saying amen after your father or a fellow Christian in the congregation has represented you in prayer. Have you ever poured out your heart to Jehovah and told him what you think, what you fear, what challenges you face? Have you ever told him things that you would be embarrassed to discuss with any human? Honest, heartfelt prayers bring a sense of peace. (Philippians 4:6, 7) They help us to draw close to Jehovah and to sense that he is drawing close to us. 9 We see another way to draw close to Jehovah in these inspired words: “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, in order that you may become wise in your future.” (Proverbs 19:20) Yes, if you listen to Jehovah and obey him, you are building for the future. How can you demonstrate that you do listen to Jehovah? No doubt you regularly attend Christian meetings and listen to the program parts. Also, you “honor your father and your mother” by being present at the family Bible study. (Ephesians 6:1, 2; Hebrews 10:24, 25) That is fine. In addition, though, do you ‘buy out the time’ to prepare for the meetings, to read the Bible regularly, to do research? Do you try to apply what you read, so that you will walk as a ‘wise person’? (Ephesians 5:15-17; Psalm 1:1-3) If you do that, you are drawing close to Jehovah. 10 In the opening words of the book of Proverbs, the inspired writer explains the purpose of that Bible book. It is, he says, “for one to know wisdom and discipline, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive the discipline that gives insight, righteousness and judgment and uprightness, to give to the inexperienced ones shrewdness, to a young man knowledge and thinking ability.” (Proverbs 1:1-4) Hence, as you read and apply the words of Proverbs—as well as the rest of the Bible—you will cultivate righteousness and uprightness, and Jehovah will be happy to have you draw close to him. (Psalm 15:1-5) The more you cultivate judgment, shrewdness, knowledge, and thinking ability, the better will be your decisions. 11 Is it unreasonable to expect a young person to act wisely in this way? No, for many young Christians do so. As a result, others respect them and ‘do not look down on their youth.’ (1 Timothy 4:12) Their parents are justly proud of them, and Jehovah says that they make his heart rejoice. (Proverbs 27:11) Even though they are young, they can be confident that these inspired words apply to them: “Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful.”—Psalm 37:37.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 01:08:09 +0000
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