Have you ever gotten into your car after a church service and exclaimed, “Wow, that was an incredible service! The music was fantastic, and the preaching was spot-on!” I’ve experienced that feeling too. It’s a wonderful sensation. And we strive to seek that feeling throughout the week or even longer, yearning for that “spiritual high.” These moments tend to linger in our minds, and we associate them with the presence of God. We somehow link this excitement to the Christian life. The thought is that an “excited feeling” somehow equates to God’s presence, and when we don’t feel it, we believe that Jesus is not actively working among us. Some people believe that this feeling should be felt constantly. Well, I have some news for you: this feeling of spiritual high is not what a Christian will experience most of the time.

 

Those services that elevate us to this state of transcendence leave an open wound in our hearts, and we secretly yearn for that experience once more. I understand your desire, but chasing emotions leads us astray from a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. This can be a perilous position for believers who prioritize sensations over the Savior.

 

I regret to inform you that God’s presence may not always be “felt.” There are times in our journey that we may feel distant from Him and believe that He doesn’t hear our prayers. However, let me assure you that this is a normal part of the Christian experience. As a Christian, you will encounter both highs and lows, but God is always present in your struggles. He may be

silent or still, but He will never abandon you. 

 

The issue arises when believers believe that God isn’t working if they don’t experience this ‘spiritual high.’ They assume they must seek God and His presence to obtain that emotional boost. They might travel from church to church, scour their Christian playlist, or feel like they’re doing something wrong to cause this. Let me set the record straight for those searching for this ‘spiritual high’: don’t live your Christian life believing you need an emotional surge or adrenaline rush as a sign of Jesus’s presence. The truth is, Jesus is constantly working and moving around us. Sometimes, we may feel isolated, but our emotions don’t always accurately reflect reality.

 

We will experience exhilarating moments with Christ, but also moments where we feel like we are shouting into an echo chamber, with no one responding but ourselves. This is God’s wisdom at work, disconnecting our experiences from His truth. Instead of seeking those excitements, seek the Savior! Jesus wants you to find your passion in Him and Him alone. Be cautious not to give your feelings more importance than you do Christ.

 

Moreover, I empathize with the desire to experience that divine experience and excitement, but it’s not always the case. There are times when we must actively pursue God, seek Him, and

prioritize Him in our presence. We should eliminate everything else and welcome Him into our lives. We should sit with Him, talk to Him, and listen in silence for the revelations of the Holy Spirit. That sense of loneliness should motivate us to deepen our relationship with Him. In this study, we will explore various ways to stay close to God as described in the scriptures.

 

One of the first acts we can do is to actually SEEK GOD’S PRESENCE:

 

James 4:8 says,

 

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 

James appears to state the obvious: move closer to God, and God will move closer to you. While this is true, there are certain responsibilities on our part. The scripture advises us to “cleanse your hands and purify your heart.” It is actually broken down like this, “cleanse your hands, you sinners” and “purify your hearts, you double minded.” We, and all the readers, are called “sinners” and “double minded.” Now, it’s important to know that we still sin in this flesh. Even after salvation, we have the desire of sin in us and we are not perfect. But we are coming to a perfect, sinless God; we must recognize the disparity between ourselves and the God of the universe. We live constantly trying to remove sin from our lives, and that’s how it should be. We

know that God is perfect, flawless, and hates sin; therefore James tells us to “cleanse our hands.”

 

Washing our lives of the sin that has intruded upon us involves confessing, admitting, and removing sin. By examining ourselves with the word of God, we can bring to the surface the matters that rage against our souls and extinguish them when they arise. The scriptures renew our minds to righteousness and holiness, transforming our lives by applying their truth to our daily walk. When we approach God with a pure heart, we cleanse our hands of sin. If we prioritize God over our sin, we will experience a closer and more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

Being double-minded simply means approaching God without doubt in our hearts. If God is the creator of all things and possesses all power within, can He truly fulfill our requests? Of course, yes! Therefore, do not approach God with unbelief regarding your requests. Christ possesses all the resources necessary to accomplish anything we conceive or ask, so do not approach Him half-heartedly. When we come to Jesus, we can have complete confidence that He has the power to move any mountain that requires it. Therefore, keep this in mind: God can, but it is merely a matter of His will whether or not He does so.

 

When we sense a shift in the presence of God in our personal journey, don’t delay; seek Him earnestly. Christ, with His boundless power and resources, is reigning as the King and

Savior of the entire universe. However, before approaching Him, we must examine and eliminate the sins in our lives. With unwavering confidence, we should approach Him, knowing that He can accomplish anything. How can we trust Christ with our souls if we cannot fully surrender to Him in trust on this earth? Recognize His divine nature and approach Him as such. Christ welcomes us, renews us, and will never forsake us. This will strengthen our love and friendship with Jesus and bring us closer into His presence. Humility is required in the kingdom of God. Seek Christ appropriately and He will draw close to you.

James 4:7-10

New American Standard Bible 1995

 

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you

double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will

exalt you.”

 

James asserts that developing a close relationship with God is not a mere coincidence. It flourishes through a daily routine of seeking Him, turning away from sin, and expressing an

unwavering love for Him. The promise is encouraging: God extends a warm welcome to those who genuinely seek Him and respond to Him through repentance and faith.

 

 

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