Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

I hear the Lord’s whispering to His Bride today saying, “Will you draw near to Me?”

Life pulls at us to give our time, energy and focus to everything but stillness. It truly is the greatest wrestle for people. Taking time daily to be still and draw near to God is immediately met with a battle of distraction in the mind and heart.

I often begin my “drawing near time” by praying out of Philippians 4:7,

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

His peace comes to guard my heart and mind from distraction so that I can draw near.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” James 4:8(a)

To draw near to someone takes intentionality. When I was a young mom in ministry, I had to set days aside to draw near to my children, to my husband and to my source of life, Jesus.

There was the constant “need of others” vying for my time and attention. It took time and a maturing process but I had to learn that I was not other’s “Savior” and that when I drew away from the crowds to draw near to God or my family, I was not neglecting or abandoning the call of God upon my life or my commitment to others.

There were times that I faced criticism and judgements when I drew back but even Jesus knew when to leave the crowds to draw near to His Father or to His family (the disciples).

A number of months ago I heard the Lord calling me to “come away with Him to draw near to Him for an extended time.” It was at a time that my entire family was leaving to go to an important family event in another state. I wrestled with the invitation to “draw near” because I knew that this time with our extended family was a once in a lifetime experience. But the Spirit was persistent and continued to whisper an invitation to “stay behind and draw near to Him.”

Finally, I spoke with my family and they quickly blessed me to stay behind. When they drove away I went directly to my bedroom with my Bible and my journal to lay down on the floor to draw near to God.

Over the next three days God drew near to me in deep, constant intimacy. As I accepted His invitation to draw near to Him, He drew near to me with profound presence, amazing affections, deep intercession, refreshing and renewal. This time truly reset my life and my intimacy with Him.

The same is true with my husband and children. I tend to be very “single focused” and yet my life is always juggling a hundred different things. When I am doing a task it usually gets all of my attention and focus. This can be a good trait but for my family, who also needs my attention, it can be challenging. My kids (who are all young adults now) have taken to calling me by my full name (rather than Mom) when they can’t get my attention. When I hear the name, “Kathleen” by one of my kids it somehow jolts me out of my ultra focused state and back onto them.

I never want Jesus to have to work hard to get my attention off the work of the Kingdom and back onto the King.

Intimacy is forged as we get still and draw near. I am a very early riser because it is in the quiet of the dawn that I draw near to Him. Yet even then I must be intentional to not allow distractions to draw my mind and heart away.

 “…fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

We must take time to fix our attention on Jesus. We are being invited to draw near and give our undivided attention and affections to the One who gave His all for us.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Colossians 3:1-3

It is vital to set our minds upon Jesus and intentionally devote time to drawing near to Him. It is then that you will find that He draws near to you in ways that sustain you, renew you, refresh you and draw you into abundant living.

He’s whispering an invitation to you, “Will you draw near to Me today?”

As you say yes, know that He will draw near to you!

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If Kathi’s articles and ministry has blessed you, consider sowing a financial seed into her ministry so that she can continue to be an encouragement to the body of Christ. To give go to: https://www.inscribeministries.com/

Kathi’s newest book was released on 7/7. “30 Days to Breakthrough: Becoming Bold and Courageous” is available through your local bookstore or through Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732770743/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_U9FjDb7W1528X