“let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace”  Hebrews 4:16

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus”  Hebrews 10:19

In his book “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home” Richard Foster writes of God: “He mourns that we do not draw near to Him.  He grieves that we have forgotten Him.  He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness.  He longs for our presence.”

In the early days of our Five Week Challenge many of you have mentioned that you have a new awareness of God’s presence and how often we neglect Him because we are busy with so many activities, even good activities.

Practicing the discipline of fasting and praying others has benefits beyond what we originally expect.  One such benefit is enjoying His presence…being more conscious of our Lord.

I am thankful that God wants me to approach Him.  I am sad at all the times I’ve not drawn near to Him, thus causing Him to “mourn” and “grieve.”  I am praying that this Five Week Challenge helps all of us to draw near to God more often, and is so doing make glad God’s heart.

Pastor Steve Hogg

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PSS What day are you fasting this week?  Are you praying for two different church members each day?  Are you praying for two different items in last Sunday’s bulletin each day?