Draw me closer to you.

 Draw Me Closer to You

A Reflection on James 4:8, Psalm 42:1, and Song of Solomon 1:4

Draw me closer to You, Lord—not just to the edge of Your presence,

But into the holy of holies, into the deepest essence

Of who You are. Let me not stand at a distance, afraid,

But come boldly to Your throne, where grace has been displayed.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

The crowd pressed around You in the days of flesh and bone,

But I want to be like Mary, sitting at Your feet alone.

Not asking for a miracle, not clamoring for bread,

But longing just to know Your heart, to hear what You have said.

Draw me past the outer courts, past the ritual and the rite,

Into the sacred stillness of Your presence and Your light.

Let me leave behind the noise, the hurry, and the fret,

To rest in the assurance that I am not forgotten yet.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1)

When the world pulls hard and loud, when duty calls my name,

When anxiety whispers and fear fans its flame,

Gently take my hand and lead me to the secret place,

Where the worries of the day dissolve before Your face.

Draw me closer—not by force, but by the cords of love,

The kindness that draws repentance from the heavens above.

I have wandered far too long in the wilderness of my own will.

Come, Good Shepherd, find me, and on Your shoulders carry me still.

“Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers.” (Song of Solomon 1:4)

Closer—that I may hear Your heartbeat, feel Your breath,

Know the comfort that casts out every fear of life and death.

Closer than my next thought, closer than my skin,

Until I live and move and have my being in You, deep within.

So I whisper now the prayer that my heart has always known:

Draw me closer, Lord. I don’t want to be alone.

Not just for a moment, not just for a day,

But closer, ever closer, come what may.

Amen.