I was once in a dating relationship that was about to be parted geographically. We discussed the pluses and minuses of being separated. We wondered about the impact on our relationship.

Whenever the topic came up, people would remind us of a well-worn cliché, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Hmm. Maybe that’s the case for some folks.

In our case, it soon became, “Absence makes the fond heart wander.” I wasn’t out of town six weeks before her friends were letting me know that the relationship did not carry the same importance for her as it did for me. We broke up when I did return to town a couple of months later.

I don’t say any of this to bash this young woman. We were young and had no clue what the future held. We remain friends over social media.

As I reflect on my relationship with the Lord, these types of thoughts run through my head. I say I want all of Him. I say that I want to know Him. I say that I want to experience Him. I say that I am committed to following Jesus. I have pursued Him over the years. I have read His Word, worshiped, spent time communing in prayer, and serving Him.

After all, don’t I know God after all these years?

Yes! I do. And I want to know more of Him, experience more of Him, proclaim more of Him. I have tried to fill my heart and mind with Him over the years but I do not want to live on yesterday’s deposits. I want to continually experience this truth in the book of James:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8a NASB
When I was younger, I experienced the reversed cliché. Absence makes the fond heart wander. I don’t ever want that to be the case with my Lord. To begin with, my commitment to Him is much stronger.

The Bible Immersion Adventure and discussing God’s Word with friends has kept me drawing near. I don’t think God requires much of an excuse to draw near in His grace.

If you are not currently drawing near to God, I encourage you to make that your determination. Set aside a place and time. Find a good bible app and subscribe to a daily bible plan.

Don’t let your heart which is fond for God start to wander.

Love and blessings,
Dave