Drawing Near…

James 4:7-8 continues to come to my mind and heart lately. It says, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”. We are beginning to meet people from our new neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods weekly, often daily. Conversations are deepening with some, but the spiritual soil here is often rock hard, previously hurt or damaged, often never before tilled! Satan would love for us to become discouraged and grow weary in these early days, and give up on the call God has placed on our lives. But we will resist him, rebuke him in Jesus’ name, and he will have to flee! We know God called us to this neighborhood. We will not quit!
Conversations the past couple of weeks have included one who left a church in TX because evangelism was being taught and encouraged above service, even in children’s programming; one who is turned off to church and Christians because of hateful words and actions toward those of other races, religions, and lifestyle choices; and one who raised a foster child who is now an adult with a strong relationship with God, described by the former foster mom as “as bad as her ending up in prison or on the streets” because it has driven them just as far apart.
Hurt is around all of us. I’m not discouraged by it, but I am broken over it! I am drawing near to God and He is drawing near to me! I am reminded it is He Who changes hearts and lives and heals hurts! He has done it for me and I will boast in Him until all of Lowry hears and believes!!