7 Ways To Feel Closer To God

God is very clear about what things truly bring His delight into our lives.

Isaiah 58:1-14

Reference: v.7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (TNIV Bible)

Explore: I recently sat down with a young man who was unemployed. He was not seeking a job from me, but the topic of his unemployment came up in conversation.

After he mentioned how much he wanted a job, I asked him what kind of job he would like to have. He thought something within the trade field would be good. When I asked him to be a little more specific he struggled to nail one thing down (pardon the pun!).

It seems he had worked for a short time in retail but got bored, he’d worked as a plumber but did not get along with another colleague, and he’d helped out as a labourer but had no interest in getting an apprenticeship so ended up being passed up for another worker. While his work history was varied, each job was very short lived.

It became clear to me that if this young man really wanted a good job then he needed to apply himself a little more. I question whether he really wanted a job or just wanted an easy life where money would grow on trees for him.

Application: We would all love the easy road, but it’s not often the best passage for us to take. It’s the same with our faith.

We all want God’s blessing and favour, but do we know how to truly receive it?

Isaiah 58 gives us clear instruction of what truly brings God’s joy into our lives and it’s not just through singing, fasting and attending church. In fact, God is very clear about what things truly bring His delight into our lives.

1. Help those who are being treated unjustly,
2. Free the oppressed,
3. Assist the heavy burdened,
4. Share with the hungry,
5. Give to the poor,
6. Clothe the naked,
7. Support your family.

These are the things that bring the glory of God into our lives. If you do these you will feel closer to God than any other time in your life!

And the book of Isaiah is not the only one to highlight that these are the ways of God. It’s all throughout scripture.

We spend so much time focusing our worship upon singing, tithing, church and words, and yet, the ultimate worship is helping those in need.

Prayer: Lord, we know that You delight in our praise and worship, but may we not put aside how active we can be in our worship by helping others. Open our eyes to see those in need today. Amen.

When was the last time you worshipped God by helping someone in need?

connect, faith, God, Isaiah, Job, love, needy, poor, work, worship