Near to the Heart of God

During different times and seasons of my life, different songs have encouraged my heart. 

Lately, I’ve been blessed by a hymn I’ve known for a long time. Near to the Heart of God.

I played this hymn on my first harp recording as a medley with Sweet Hour of Prayer. 

To me, prayer and being near the heart of God kind of go hand in hand. 

Consider some of the words in this lovely hymn: 

There is a place of quiet rest, 

Near to the heart of God. 

A place where sin cannot molest, 

Near to the heart of God. 

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, 

Sent from the heart of God, 

Hold us who wait before Thee, 

Near to the heart of God. 

 

~ 

Last week, an older sister in the Lord took me out for supper one night at a small, local restaurant. 

While enjoying warm sandwiches and a cup of soup, we shared hearts. During our time together, I shared different things with her. 

One thing I shared with her that evening was something the Lord impressed on my heart recently. That is the importance of prayer. 

To me, our world has changed tremendously in the past five years, and sadly, not for the better. 

Yes, we live in a fallen world. Things haven’t been good ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God. 

But things seem to be getting increasingly worse. 

I remember people saying things like that years ago when I was a girl and a young lady. True, our world is in a sad state, but I never focused on that. 

Ever since I was a girl, I have always looked for the good in people, for the good in this world, and for the good and the beautiful things of life. 

I get excited over flowers and beautiful sunsets. I relish in all of the good gifts around me from God. 

But in the past few years, I have noticed a major shift in our world. Something is different. I can’t walk into a local grocery store right now without seeing the name “Wicked” written in bold letters on a box of cookies. It is so sad. 

I continue to focus on God’s blessings and gifts all around me. But I also cannot ignore the evil, the ungodliness, and the brokenness I see in this world. It’s everywhere. And it breaks my heart. 

Perhaps I am just getting older (also true), but our world is getting worse exactly like the Bible said would happen before the return of Christ. 

Prayer is so important. I felt the Lord impress on me recently that it is extremely important for me to pray before going to bed at night. Pray over my family. Pray over our home. Pray for our nation. 

It is also important to stay very close to God and near His heart. 

What are things that make me feel close to God and near His heart?

I feel God’s presence out in nature, His beautiful creation, no matter what time of year it is. 

I love to go to my favorite nature area as often as I can. For me, it is like hitting a reset button. 

The late autumn/ early winter sky around sunset is so beautiful. I love to walk here. 

Godly music makes me feel close to God. 

Playing my harp makes me feel near God. 

My large harp. 

Reading God’s Word makes me feel close to Him. 

I love Psalm 91. 

And as mentioned above, prayer especially makes me feel close to God. 

As we approach the close of another year, naturally, I’ve thought back over this past year. 

This year of 2025 had many blessings in it, but overall, it was a harder year for me. 

This year, I was reminded of the power of the tongue. The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)  

We can bless and encourage others with our words, or we can hurt others with our words. 

Our words have tremendous power. 

This year, I had many mean, unkind, uncaring, unloving words spoken to me.  

I choose to love, to forgive, and to go forward. 

But I am seeing another Bible prophecy come to pass in these days before the return of Christ. 

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Matthew 24:12 

Love is waxing cold. 

I cried out to my Heavenly Father so many times this year because of unkind words said to me. 

God is always there to listen. He is never mean. He is never cruel. He is never harsh or quick to judge.

My favorite book of the Bible became even dearer to my heart this past year. The book of 1 John. 

“…God is love.”

1 John 4:8

Such simple words, yet so profound. God is love. 

God’s love makes me feel close to Him. God’s love is the greatest thing there is. God’s love is what I want to share with others. 

He loves you. He loves me. 

In these days before His return, God’s love is where I want to stay. 

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Jude 1:21 

A picture from my nature walk earlier this evening.