Draw Me Nearer

Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:21-22

Tomorrow marks the first day of Lent, the traditional season of fasting and prayer before Easter. I’ve spent time thinking and reading about what the season has meant in history, and what I hope it will mean for me this year. Lent is the season of forty days before Easter (not counting Sundays) representing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, immediately after His baptism, where He endured temptation by Satan.

Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:10-13

The purpose of Lent is to prepare us, through prayer, self denial and penitence, for the commemoration of Jesus’ death and His triumphant resurrection. He sacrified everything for us – whatever little we can do in these forty days seems so inconsequential in comparison.

I am committed to drawing nearer to God, especially during the next forty days. Through Bible study, meditation, prayer and worship, I want to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Him.

Draw Me Nearer
Words by Fanny J. Crosby

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.