Drawing Near: Cultivating Intimacy with God
Summary
As we gather on this final day of 21 days of prayer, the invitation is clear: draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. This is not just a call to religious activity, but to deep, personal relationship with the living God. Just as Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days in Babylon, we set aside this time to seek God’s face, believing that prayer connects us to Him and fasting disconnects us from the world. In a culture that often distracts and divides, we are called to be distinct—people who reflect Jesus, not just in our words, but in our lives.
Drawing near to God is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, it’s about communion with God, submitting to Him, and resisting the enemy. This is a spiritual battle—worship and warfare go hand in hand, and victory is found in the Word. Horizontally, as we draw near to God, we are also called to draw near to others, refusing to judge or criticize, but instead loving and forgiving as Christ has loved and forgiven us. The health of our relationship with God is inseparable from the health of our relationships with others.
Preparation is essential. To draw near, we must prepare our spirit, soul, and body. Spiritually, we cleanse ourselves through the Word and the blood of Jesus, inviting the Holy Spirit to help us put off the old nature and walk in newness of life. In our soul, we filter out worry, negativity, anger, unforgiveness, and comparison, choosing instead to meditate on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy. In our bodies, we practice self-control through fasting, remembering that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and instruments of worship.
This journey is not about checking spiritual boxes, but about intimacy with God. He desires relationship, not just routine. We are as close to God as we choose to be. As we read, sing, and pray the Word, we position ourselves for personal and corporate revival. The early church had little in terms of resources, but they had the power of God through prayer and fasting. So, we go all in, believing for a harvest, for revival, and for God’s presence to be unmistakable in our lives and our church.
Key Takeaways
- Drawing near to God is a command rooted in relationship, not religion. It’s possible to know Scripture and spiritual practices yet miss the heart of God. The invitation is to move beyond routine and into genuine intimacy, where we meet with God daily and allow Him to transform us from the inside out. [52:06]
- True spiritual preparation involves cleansing our spirit, soul, and body. The Word of God is to our spirit what water is to our body—essential for cleansing and renewal. We must intentionally remove what contaminates us—sin, bitterness, worry, and comparison—so that we can be filled with the Spirit and walk in freedom. [55:01]
- Our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with others. Drawing near to God compels us to love, forgive, and refuse to judge our neighbors. The health of our spiritual life is reflected in how we treat those around us, and bitterness or unforgiveness will hinder our intimacy with God. [56:07]
- Fasting is not just about food, but about self-control and surrender. Whether it’s a complete fast, a Daniel fast, or a soul fast from media or negativity, fasting is a way to bring our bodies and desires under the lordship of Christ. What we starve dies, and what we feed thrives—fasting helps us break the power of anything that would master us. [01:13:20]
- Prayer and fasting are the means by which we experience God’s power and presence. The early church lacked modern resources but was marked by the supernatural because they prioritized prayer. When we pray, we receive what only God can do—revival, healing, and transformation—far beyond what preaching, teaching, or singing alone can accomplish. [01:16:39]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Why 21 Days of Prayer?
[03:10] - The Example of Daniel
[05:30] - The Purpose of Prayer and Fasting
[08:00] - Drawing Near: Vertical and Horizontal
[12:00] - Standing on the Promises of God
[15:00] - James 4: The Call to Draw Near
[18:00] - Relationship Over Religion
[22:00] - Cleansing: The Word and the Blood
[26:00] - Preparing Your Spirit
[32:00] - Preparing Your Soul
[38:00] - Preparing Your Body
[44:00] - Types of Fasting
[48:00] - The Power of Prayer and Fasting
[52:00] - Invitation to Relationship and Closing Prayer
[56:00] - Blessing and Final Worship
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Draw Near to God
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### Bible Reading
James 4:7-10 (ESV)
> 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
> 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
> 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
> 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
> 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
> 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to James 4:8, what are the two things we are told to do in order to draw near to God?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between religious activity and a real relationship with God? ([52:06])
3. What does Romans 12:1 say about how we should treat our bodies, and how does this relate to worship?
4. The sermon mentions that drawing near to God is both “vertical” and “horizontal.” What do these terms mean in the context of our relationships? ([56:07])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The passage in James talks about cleansing hands and purifying hearts. What does this look like practically in a believer’s life, and why is it necessary before drawing near to God? ([55:01])
2. The pastor says, “You are as close to God as you want to be.” What does this statement reveal about our responsibility in our relationship with God? ([53:38])
3. Why does the sermon emphasize that our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with others? How can bitterness or unforgiveness hinder our intimacy with God? ([56:07])
4. The sermon describes fasting as a way to “disconnect from the world.” What are some things besides food that might be worth fasting from, and why? ([01:13:20])
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor said, “Prayer connects us to God. Fasting disconnects us from the world.” Is there something in your life right now that you feel God is asking you to disconnect from? What would it look like to fast from it this week? ([44:12])
2. When you think about your daily routine, do you find yourself checking spiritual boxes or truly seeking intimacy with God? What is one change you could make to move from routine to relationship? ([52:06])
3. The sermon challenges us to “cleanse our spirit, soul, and body.” Which area—spirit, soul, or body—do you feel needs the most attention in your life right now? What is one step you can take to prepare that area to draw near to God? ([55:01])
4. The pastor talked about filtering out worry, negativity, anger, unforgiveness, and comparison from our souls. Which of these do you struggle with most, and what practical step can you take this week to address it? ([01:09:43])
5. In what ways do you see your relationship with God affecting your relationships with others? Is there someone you need to forgive or love more intentionally as a result of drawing near to God? ([56:07])
6. The early church didn’t have many resources but experienced God’s power through prayer and fasting. What is one way you can prioritize prayer in your life, even if you feel you lack time or resources? ([01:16:39])
7. The pastor said, “We are as close to God as we choose to be.” What is one specific choice you can make this week to draw closer to God? ([53:38])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, asking God to help each person draw near to Him in a deeper way this week. Consider ending by reading James 4:8 aloud together.
Devotional
Day 1: Draw Near to God—A Relationship, Not Just Religion
Drawing near to God is not a suggestion but a command, and it assumes a living, vibrant relationship with Him rather than mere religious activity. God desires spiritual intimacy with you, not just spiritual activity; He wants you to know Him heart to heart, not just check off a devotional box. You are as close to God as you want to be, and He invites you to come near, promising that He will draw near to you in return. The obstacles to this closeness are dirty hands, defiled hearts, and double minds, but through the blood of Jesus and the washing of the Word, you can be cleansed and enjoy true fellowship with Him. [52:06]
James 4:7-8 (ESV):
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have settled for religious routine instead of genuine relationship with God? How can you intentionally seek Him heart to heart today?
Day 2: Preparing Your Spirit—Victory in Worship and the Word
Preparing your spirit means inviting the Holy Spirit to help you win the daily battle between your old nature and your new life in Christ. Victory comes through Jesus, and the means of that victory are worship and the Word—reading, singing, and praying Scripture. As you fill your life with God’s Word and worship, you are standing on His promises and allowing His Spirit to bear witness with your spirit, empowering you to put to death the misdeeds of the body and live in the freedom and peace He offers. [01:03:00]
Romans 8:5-6, 12-13 (ESV):
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace... So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can fill your mind and spirit with God’s Word and worship today, replacing something that distracts you from Him?
Day 3: Preparing Your Soul—Letting Go of Worry, Negativity, and Unforgiveness
Your soul is the seat of your emotions, and it can easily become weighed down by worry, negativity, anger, comparison, and unforgiveness. God calls you to filter these out through prayer, thanksgiving, and meditating on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy. As you let go of bitterness and choose forgiveness, you make room for God’s peace to guard your heart and mind, and you open yourself to deeper intimacy with Him and healthier relationships with others. [01:08:19]
Philippians 4:6-8 (ESV):
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Reflection: Who is one person you need to forgive or one negative thought pattern you need to surrender to God today? What step can you take to release it?
Day 4: Preparing Your Body—Fasting as Worship and Surrender
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God calls you to honor Him with your body by practicing self-control and surrender. Fasting is a way to disconnect from the world and its distractions, reminding you that your body is not your own but bought with a price. As you fast—whether from food, media, or other habits—you are offering your body as a living sacrifice, making space for God’s presence and power to work in and through you. [01:13:20]
Romans 12:1 (ESV):
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one thing you can fast from this week—food, media, or another habit—to intentionally make room for God’s presence in your life?
Day 5: God’s Good Plans—Trusting His Presence and Provision
God is a loving Father who has good plans for your life, and He invites you to trust Him fully, believing that He is working for your good and His glory. As you draw near to Him, He promises to restore your soul, lead you in paths of righteousness, and provide for your every need. Even in the valleys and battles of life, His presence is your comfort and victory, and His goodness and mercy will follow you all your days as you dwell in His presence. [01:27:00]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV):
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God’s good plans and provision today? How can you express that trust in prayer or action right now?
Quotes
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