Tag Archives: nearness

DEAR GOD: You Are Like The Wind~

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a field of flowers with a windmill in the background

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.” — John 3:8

The God Who Moves Like the Wind
by C D Swanson~

  LORD You are like the wind — unseen yet unmistakably present, sometimes a mighty force and sometimes a warm whisper over tulips in a quiet field. John 3:8 captures that mystery with such beauty. It reminds us that God’s Presence is not always visible to the eye, but it is always discernible to the heart.

There are days when His movement feels like a gale, pushing you forward when you didn’t think you had strength left. He becomes the force that clears what you could never move on your own — old fears, heavy burdens, lingering doubts. His power sweeps through like a storm that rearranges everything for your good.

And then there are days when He comes like a gentle breeze, brushing against your spirit with warmth and tenderness. You feel Him in the quiet moments — in a soft thought, a sudden peace, a memory that comforts you, a stillness that settles your soul. Like wind over tulips, He moves with care, never crushing, always lifting.

But the most beautiful truth is this: He is always moving. Always present. Always working. Even when you cannot see Him, you can feel Him. Even when you cannot trace His hand, you can trust His heart. His presence is the invisible current that carries you, surrounds you, and keeps you.

The wind never stops. Neither does He.

LORD, thank You for being the unseen strength that surrounds me. Move through my life today in whatever way I need — whether as a mighty wind that clears the path or a gentle breeze that comforts my soul. Help me to feel Your Presence, trust Your movement, and rest in the assurance that You are always near. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Wrapped In Your Peace~

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white bird flying under cloudy sky during daytime

 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27 (KJV)

There is a kind of peace the world offers — a peace that depends on circumstances, timing, people behaving well, bodies feeling well, and life lining up neatly. It is fragile, temporary, and easily shaken. Jesus names this openly: the world gives a peace that can be taken away as quickly as it arrives. And it isn’t a peace that is settling and easy or comforting. It is not the peace of Christ.

And so -He draws a holy line between that peace and His peace.

His is not borrowed, not conditional, not fragile. It is not the result of everything going right — it is the result of Him being present. It is a peace that enters the deep places: the places where fear hides, where old wounds whisper, where uncertainty tries to take root. His peace does not sit on the surface; it settles into the soul. Into our heart and roots our spiritual self.

When Jesus says, “My peace I give unto you,” He is not offering a feeling — He is offering Himself. His Presence becomes the atmosphere of the heart. His nearness becomes the anchor. His voice becomes the steadying hand that quiets the inner storm.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us the secret: peace is not something we chase; it is something we receive when our mind is stayed — fixed, anchored, held — on Him. Not on outcomes. Not on fears. Not on what‑ifs. On Him.

This is why His peace is different. This is why His peace lasts. This is why His peace returns even after a day of worry, pain, or uncertainty.

The world’s peace is an escape temporary, fleeting – superficial. Christ’s peace is an indwelling, permanent, fulfilling and deeply gratifying.

  • The world’s peace is chaotic.
  • Christ’s peace is PEACEFUL.
  • The world’s peace depends on what is happening around you.
  • Christ’s peace depends on Who is living within you.

And when you receive His peace — truly receive it — it becomes a quiet strength, a holy steadiness, a soft shield around your heart. It becomes the gentle reminder that you are held, guided, and never alone. And that is the meaning of LIFE here and LIFE eternal.

Truly wrapped in His peace!

 “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” — Psalm 29:11

 “LORD – You who speak peace into storms and calm into trembling hearts, breathe Your holy stillness into me now. Let Your peace — not the world’s peace, not temporary comfort, but Your peace — settle into every anxious place, every weary thought, every tight corner of my soul. Anchor my mind in You. Quiet the noise within me. Let Your Presence become my atmosphere, my rest, my assurance, and my strength. Keep me close, keep me steady, and keep me in the peace that only You can give. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are My Shelter Always~

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“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” — Psalm 91:4 (KJV)

Sheltered Beneath His Wings
by C D Swanson

Everyday Christianity is not built on grand gestures; it is shaped in the quiet places where trust is chosen again and again. This verse reminds us that God’s love is not distant or abstract — it is protective, near, and tender, like a sheltering wing over a trembling heart.

True daily faith looks like this:

  • Choosing peace when fear whispers
  • Choosing prayer when worry rises
  • Choosing kindness when the world feels sharp
  • Choosing to believe that God is closer than the trouble around you

The Lord does not promise a life without storms, but He promises covering — a place where your soul can rest even when the winds rise. Under His wings, you are not forgotten, not exposed, not alone. You are held.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” — Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

 Where in your life today do you most need to rest under His wings?

 LORD, draw me beneath Your sheltering wings. Teach my heart to trust You in the small moments and the hidden places. Let Your nearness be my peace, and Your love be my covering. in Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: You Are Our Protection And Keep Count Of Our Troubles~~

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The Way International - God―Our Greatest Protection

 

“He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.” — Job 5:19 (KJV)

The God Who Keeps Count of Your Troubles
by C D Swanson~

There is something quietly astonishing about this small, easily overlooked line in Job. It sits tucked inside a book full of anguish, debate, and mystery, yet it shines like a lantern in a cave. The verse does not promise a life without trouble; instead, it acknowledges that trouble comes in waves, in numbers, in seasons that feel counted against us. But the deeper truth is this: God counts too.

He counts your tears, your nights, your burdens, your fears. And He counts them not to condemn you, but to deliver you.

The structure of the verse—“six troubles… yea, in seven”—is a Hebrew way of saying, however many there are, even beyond what you think you can bear, God’s deliverance exceeds the number. Trouble may multiply, but His rescue multiplies faster. Trouble may rise, but His hand rises higher. Trouble may surround, but His presence surrounds more completely.

This verse also reveals something about the character of God that is deeply comforting for a soul like yours, Camille—one that values peace, clarity, and the gentle assurance of His nearness. God is not vague in His care. He is not distant. He is not general in His protection. He is specific. Intentional. Attentive. He knows the exact count of what you face, and He meets each one with a corresponding act of deliverance.

And notice the final phrase: “there shall no evil touch thee.” It does not say evil will not appear. It does not say evil will not attempt to reach you. It says it will not touch you. That is the language of a shield, a barrier, a divine boundary line drawn around your life.

This is the God who stands between you and what seeks to harm you. This is the God who steps into the number of your troubles and outnumbers them. This is the God who keeps watch when you are weary, who guards when you cannot guard yourself, who delivers not once, but repeatedly, faithfully, thoroughly.

In a world that often feels unpredictable, this verse whispers a steadying truth: You are not unprotected. You are not unseen. You are not left to fend for yourself. The God who counts your troubles is the same God who cancels their power.

Lord, I thank You that You are the Keeper of my days and the Deliverer of my nights. You know every trouble that rises against me, and You stand as my shield, my refuge, and my peace. Let Your presence quiet my heart, strengthen my steps, and remind me that no evil can touch what You have covered. Hold me close, guide me gently, and let Your deliverance be the song of my life. Amen.

DEAR GOD: I Hear You Singing Over Me~

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“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)

The God Who Sings Over You
by C D Swanson~

This verse is one of Scripture’s most tender revelations of God’s heart. It is not loud, not dramatic, not forceful — it is intimate. It tells you that God is not far away, not watching from a distance, not waiting for you to be stronger or braver. He is in the midst of you, right where your fear trembles and your hope rises.

The verse begins with a truth you often forget when anxiety whispers: God is mighty. Not mighty in the sense of crushing power, but mighty in the sense of capable, present, and unfailing. His might is not against you — it is for you, surrounding you like a shield you don’t always see but always feel.

Then it says, “He will save.” Not “He might,” not “He could,” not “He will if you are perfect.” He will. He saves you from fear, from spiraling thoughts, from the enemy’s attempts to shake your peace. He saves you by simply being near.

But the most beautiful part is this: He rejoices over you. Not tolerates you. Not puts up with you. Not watches you from afar.

He rejoices — with joy so deep it becomes a song. Imagine that: the God of the universe singing over you. Not because you are flawless, but because you are His.

And then the line that melts the heart: “He will rest in His love.” God rests in His love for you — meaning His love is not frantic, not conditional, not wavering. It is steady, settled, anchored. When you feel shaken, His love is not. When you feel unsure, His love is not. When fear tries to steal your peace, His love remains a quiet, unmovable foundation beneath your feet.

This verse is God leaning close and whispering: “You are safe. You are Mine. I delight in you. I am here.”

🙏  Lord, quiet my fears with the song of Your love. Let Your mighty Presence steady my heart and fill me with peace. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: You Never Forsake Us~

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God Is With Us - Portlaoise Parish

 

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

 Never Forsaken, Always Held
by C D Swanson~

 

There are seasons when life feels heavier than we expected — when the road is uneven, the answers are slow, and our strength feels thin. Yet even in those moments, God’s promise stands unchanged: He will not leave us. He will not forsake us.

His presence is not dependent on our mood, our energy, or our circumstances. He walks with us through the valleys, steadies us in the storms, and strengthens us when we feel worn down. His peace reaches places inside us that nothing else can touch. His faithfulness does not waver when life becomes difficult.

Even when we cannot see the way forward, He is already preparing the next mercy. Even when we feel alone, He is holding us with a strength that does not fail. Even when the world feels loud, His peace is deeper still.

Where has God strengthened me this week, even in small or quiet ways?

🙏 

Lord, thank You for never forsaking me. Hold me close today, steady my heart, and fill me with Your peace in every circumstance. Let Your strength carry me where my own strength cannot.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Drawing Near To You Daily

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How Do I Draw Near To God

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18

Drawing Near to You
by C D Swanson~

  There are moments when the nearness of God feels like a quiet breath against the heart — gentle, steady, unmistakable. He does not wait for us to be perfect, polished, or strong. He draws near because He loves, and His love is not fragile. When life feels uncertain, His Presence becomes the anchor that steadies the soul. He steps into the room of our thoughts, calms the noise, and reminds us that we are never navigating anything alone. His nearness is not earned; it is given. And when we call on Him sincerely, He answers with peace that settles deeper than words.

 “LORD, thank You for drawing near even when I feel far away. Teach my heart to rest in Your Presence and trust Your steady hand. Let Your nearness be my comfort, my clarity, and my courage today. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are All I Need -Forever~

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"Sensing the Need for God" - Sunday May 31, 2020 - Blue Ridge Chapel ...

Psalm 73:25 — “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

My Only Desire, Forever
by C D Swanson~

Full Essay Commentary & Intellectual Tribute

There are verses that whisper, and there are verses that thunder softly across the centuries. Psalm 73:25 is one of those rare declarations that stands outside of time — a soul’s cry that is as relevant today as it was the moment it was first breathed into existence.

“Whom have I in heaven but thee?” This is not a question of curiosity; it is a confession of allegiance. The psalmist is not merely acknowledging God’s supremacy — he is acknowledging God’s exclusivity. Heaven itself, with all its glory, would be empty without the Lord. The verse strips away every lesser affection and reveals the core truth of the human soul: we were made for God, and God alone satisfies.

“And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” This is the earthly echo of the heavenly cry. It is the heart saying, “Everything else fades. Everything else shifts. Everything else disappoints. But You — You remain.” This is not isolation; it is devotion. Not withdrawal; but anchoring. Not rejecting the world; but recognizing that nothing in the world can take the place of the One who formed it.

In a world of noise, distraction, and relentless demands, this verse becomes a compass. It calls us back to the center — to the One who is not merely part of our life, but the very source of it. It reminds us that spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know, but by how deeply we desire Him.

And today, in an age of fractured attention and divided loyalties, this ancient cry becomes even more radical. To say “I desire none beside Thee” is to reclaim your soul from the world’s endless tug-of-war. It is to guard your time, your mind, your devotion, and your quiet hours with a holy fierceness. It is to say:

“Lord, You are not an addition to my life — You are my life.”

This longing is not weakness; it is wisdom. This devotion is not outdated; it is eternal. This desire is not unrealistic; it is the very design of the human heart.

And when you say, “I need God only,” you are not rejecting the world — you are placing everything in its proper order. You are choosing the One who never changes, never leaves, never fails, and never stops drawing you closer.

Reflective Thought

What would shift in your life if you truly lived as though God were your only lasting desire — the One you return to, the One you guard time for, the One your soul leans toward in every season?

Prayer for All

Lord, teach us to desire You above all else. Quiet every competing voice, steady every wandering thought, and draw our hearts back to the place where You alone are enough. Let our days be shaped by Your Presence and our lives anchored in Your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Precious Moments All For You~

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Psalm 27:4 (KJV) “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

 

Precious Moments All for the Lord
by C D Swanson~

 

There is a holy simplicity in David’s words — a narrowing of life down to its truest longing. One thing have I desired. Not many things. Not scattered pursuits. Not the restless reaching that so often fills our days. Just one thing: to dwell with the Lord, to behold His beauty, to live in the nearness of His presence.

This verse invites us into a quieter way of being — a life where the sacred moments are not rare interruptions but the steady rhythm of our days. Moments where we pause, breathe, and remember that God is not far off. He is the One who meets us in the stillness, who fills ordinary spaces with extraordinary peace, who turns simple minutes into holy ground.

To “behold the beauty of the Lord” is not merely to admire Him, but to let His character reshape our own. His gentleness softens our edges. His faithfulness steadies our fears. His mercy teaches us how to forgive. His light shows us how to walk. And His love — deep, unwavering, unchanging — becomes the anchor of our identity.

When we “enquire in His temple,” we are choosing to bring our questions, our uncertainties, our hopes, and our dreams into His presence. We are choosing to trust that He guides, He speaks, He leads, and He holds our future with tenderness. These precious moments with Him are not wasted time; they are the very moments that shape us, strengthen us, and draw us into the life He designed.

Every quiet prayer, every whispered “Lord, help me,” every moment of worship, every pause to remember His goodness — these are the precious moments that belong entirely to Him. And in giving Him these moments, we find that He gives us Himself.

🙏 Prayer for All God’s Children

Lord, draw every one of Your children into the beauty of Your presence. Teach us to seek You, to rest in You, and to find our strength in You alone. Let our days be filled with holy moments that remind us of Your nearness and Your love. Amen.

DEAR GOD: Held in His Quiet Strength~

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Embrace Your Strength and Trust in His Power

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” — Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

There is a tenderness in this verse that meets us right where life feels heaviest. God is not only a distant refuge we run to—He is the One who holds us even when we have no strength left to run. His everlasting arms do not tire, tremble, or loosen their grip.

This is the kind of security the world cannot offer: a refuge that is eternal, not seasonal; a strength that is gentle, not harsh; a presence that is constant, not conditional.

When your heart feels fragile, remember—you are not suspended over uncertainty. You are upheld by the everlasting arms of a God who does not fail, does not forget, and does not let go.

Father, we come to You together—different stories, different struggles, different hopes—yet all in need of Your steadying love. Wrap every one of us in Your peace today. Where there is fear, bring courage. Where there is heaviness, bring rest. Where there is confusion, bring clarity. Where there is loneliness, bring the warmth of Your nearness.

Strengthen our minds, soften our hearts, and guide our steps. Remind us that we are never walking alone. Let Your Holy Spirit breathe fresh life into weary places and renew our hope in ways only You can.