Listen

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.

James 4:7-8a

Think

My first real encounter with God felt like a hug.

I was in Chartres Cathedral in France, and my high school classmates and I were on a whirlwind tour with our French teacher. The weather was dismal, and we were beginning to feel the difficulties of travel abroad; however, our teacher encouraged us that we had something amazing ahead of us. And she was right.

Once inside Chartres we began our tour alongside pilgrims venerating the cathedral’s relics. The beauty of the altar’s art overwhelmed me, so I closed my eyes to pause and process this holy place. In that moment, I felt like someone embraced me with the sweetest, warmest hug. I knew I was not alone and that I was loved.

Coming near to God looks different for all of us. It may be through intentional study or maybe it will catch us by surprise; however, there is no better feeling than to know in such a personal way that God knows us and does indeed come near to us all.

Sarah Boatwright

Pray

Thank you for coming near, God. Please help me feel your presence today and every day. Amen.

Go

A candle flickers and prayers arise.

Our Lord, who is with us in prayer,

stays close after the “Amen,”

and will guide us,

who are blinded by ignorance and darkness,

into wisdom and light.