The Lord is Near

Psalm 145:18-19 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.”

One thing we should be mindful of when we pray is if we are doing so out of routine, if we are distracted, or if we are earnestly calling on the Lord. The psalmist David writes that the Lord is near to those who are calling on Him in truth. This could suggest that we should be truthful and sincere with our words.

Think of when you are with someone and engaging them in conversation. If that person is distracted by their surroundings, checking their phone, looking past you, or giving you a glazed over look, then you know that the person is not interested in interacting with you.

Why would God want to have a conversation with us when our minds are wandering and thinking about something else in the middle of a conversation?

Consider a time when someone was trying to sell you something, but you could tell that they didn’t care about what they were selling and it was just a job. This is not inspiring to us as a prospective buyer because we don’t see sincerity in them or their words. Similarly, why would He listen if we do not even pray with sincerity? Why would He draw near if we just let our heads fill with doubt about the benefit of praying?

Call on the Lord in truth. Call on His name in earnest. He will hear your cry and save you, but you must give Him your full attention and heartfelt sincerity. Then the Lord is near.