“Even the sparrow has found a home; and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.” (Psalm 84:3 NIV)

A mama robin has set up shop in our backyard. Her nest balances on a thin rail of our patio cover. She brings to mind the verse above. Psalm 84 is a favorite. You may recognize bits of songs and choruses in its verses, but the message is to draw near to God. The psalmist speaks of his desire to be in God’s dwelling place: in the courts, at the altar, in the doorway. I love how even the birds nest close to the altar.

To draw near to God no longer takes a trip to the Temple. If you follow Christ, the Temple is you. We are walking, talking, living, breathing Holy of Holies, because God’s Spirit lives within.

Why is it so easy to forget He is there? Too often I act independently or expect Him to keep up with me.

I need a retriever mindset—like my Lab Zuno. Zuno doesn’t set the day’s schedule. He simply follows me. Downstairs to throw in a load of laundry. Upstairs to my office for work. Back downstairs for lunch. He doesn’t care what I’m doing. He just wants to be with me.

Try these tips to draw near to God through the day:

• Instead of talking to yourself, talk to Him.
• Begin your work with worship.
• Plan breaks to reconnect.
• Don’t sweat the time you give Him. God will redeem it through the day.
• Keep a Christian book handy.
• Choose a verse to think about for the day.
• Keep praise music on.

To draw near to God doesn’t require a pilgrimage or even a trip to church, though you’ll benefit greatly from being plugged into a vibrant body of believers. All it takes is shifting your attention to Him.

And He treasures every moment.

“There are no losers excepting those who quit.” –Frank Laubach

Questions:

When you think of drawing near, does God seem close or far away?

Family Application:

Keep a jar on the table with idea slips: What can I do with God today?

• Listen to a song
• Take a walk.
• Read a Christian book.
• Read your Bible.
• Draw a picture.
• Eat a _____ and think about how God made it and why.

A great resource for developing this mindset is Practicing God’s Presence by Bro. Lawrence and Frank Laubach. Check the Amazon store on my website for Practicing God’s Presence and other recommended reads.

Tweetables:

Today drawing near doesn’t take a trip to the Temple. If you follow Christ, the Temple is you. Click To Tweet
We are walking, talking, living, breathing Holy of Holies, because God’s Spirit lives within. Click To Tweet
I need a retriever mindset—like my Lab Zuno. Zuno doesn’t set the day’s schedule. He just wants to be with me. Click To Tweet
All it takes is shifting your attention to Him. And He treasures every moment. Click To Tweet
“There are no losers excepting those who quit.” –Frank Laubach Click To Tweet