Drawing Near To God

By Katie Hershberger

November 1, 2008

I feel so blessed to be able to write for the Amish Voice. I sense that God wanted me to have a part in this and also in a prayer group. I know there are many people across the country that need someone to pray for them.

It's important for us as God's children that we care for each other and let others know that God cares.

That is one of the free gifts we have from God is to show our kindness. So many of us don't hear God's voice. Let's put it this way, we don't know if it is God, Satan or our own voice. I dealt with that at one point but after I was born again and baptized everything opened up to me. God has great gifts for us if we accept them.

When I was growing up everything was about religion. There were so many laws to follow but now I see that the only laws to follow are God's laws and none other.

Romans 10:4 says, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Christianity is a reality not a religion. We go to Heaven "by faith and not by works" (Gal 2:16). I don't want to sound judgmental but I would encourage everyone to study God's Word and seek His wisdom. God has greater gifts than we can ever imagine but to receive them as a gift, we must go to Him, repent of our sins and ask for His forgiveness.

How many of us can imagine what Jesus went through on the cross????? We all have our good and our bad days. We are all sinners, but we can always repent.

If you were sitting in an audience, I bet'cha most of your hands would go up if I would ask you what John 3:16 says:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)

And of course we have peace, confidence, faith, and love through Jesus.

Sometimes, we think life is hard, or may seem like nothing's going right, maybe someone was mistreated, or constantly worried about something, but "remember, worry leads to stress."

Some might even look at life as being a punishment or we might have a lot on our minds that we should let go of.
How many of us just sit still and think? I've learned to do that and it's awesome what God can do in times like that. Several nights ago I was praying and I promised God that after my prayer I would sit still and listen. This is what I experienced:

I thought about what Jesus really went through on the cross! And as I was thinking about what He did for us, I thought, we cannot even imagine what that must have been like; He gave His life for our sins. We should be happy and joyful for who we are and what we have.

Too many of us don't stop and think how much we have to be thankful for. When we repent and give all our problems over to God, ask Him for His mercy and forgiveness, He will take care of the rest.

The Bible says in Luke 15:7, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine just persons who need no repentance".

I Timothy 4:12, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity".

I Timothy 6:11,12, "But you, O man of God, Flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses".

II Timothy 2:6,7, "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands, For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

The best way to understand all about repentance, forgiveness, faith and love, is to stay focused on His Word-the Bible; we can get all the answers from there because it is from the Father (I Thes 4:9). We can read, you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

Thanks and God Bless you!

 

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