ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR FOCUS ON THE GOOD THINGS?This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do

“COME, ALL YOU WHO ARE THIRSTY, COME TO THE WATERS; AND YOU WHO HAVE NO MONEY, COME, BUY AND EAT!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to Me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David …

SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND;

call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon…

The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7; 58:11

HOW TO BE CLOSE TO GOD

“Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God…

A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yokes of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still, another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

THE SERVANT CAME BACK AND REPORTED THIS TO HIS MASTER.

Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ‘

Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14:15-24

YOUR TURN …

You can be close to God.

What is your excuse?

Stop listening to the enemy.

Turn your excuse into the reason you come and then make it a habit.

NOW COME AND PRAY TO BE CLOSE TO GOD

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His Name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You.

All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing the praises of Your Name.”

COME AND SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE, HIS AWESOME DEEDS FOR MANKIND! …

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!”

Psalm 66:1-5…20

“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded… Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light… You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

James 4:8; Matthew 11:28-30; John 15:3

You can be close to God.

HOW TO DO THIS AS A WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY

Day One: Experience Read the entire devotion. Do any verses stand out to you? If so, write it down and work on memorizing it over the week. I personally love the app “Scripture Typer.”

Day Two: Observe & Read Chain. Look up and chain verses (For example on how to chain verses, see this video).

Day Three: Interpret Read through the chain of verses starting with the first one. What do they say? Do you notice when it says “never” or “always” or “If, but, however, therefore, all…..”

Day Four: Application Do “Your turn” and make a list of people that God has put on your heart when you read this.

Day Five: Testify Who in your life, right now, can you share this with? There is somebody in your life that needs to hear this. Close your eyes. What name came to mind?