Getting close to God is not what I thought it would be.

I've been pressing in for many years and always imagined that the closer I got, the more God would use me for His purposes.

And it's true, but it's not the point. It's not the goal that God has in mind.

He wants you close because He wants to give you good things. He wants to lavish you with righteousness, peace, and joy.

The closer I get, the less pressure I feel. The desire to impress or perform fades away because I'm realizing that I only have one thing to bring to the One who created me: my choice.

All our Heavenly Father wants is for us to choose to be with Him forever by believing in Jesus Christ.

When the pressure to perform is gone, you find yourself more effective for Jesus than you've ever been. I don't know how that works, but it does.

I pray that you, too, will choose to experience this closeness with God. It's absolutely wonderful.