Dig Deeper, Draw Nearer, Grow Fonder

That’s my son with me in the picture.

My hope for him is that he will continually:

1. Dig deeper into the study of God's Word

2. Draw nearer to God with more understanding

3. Grow fonder of God as you see His truth unfold

Dig deeper.  Draw nearer.  Grow fonder.

That’s my slogan.  It is my aim and my writing will reflect that.  Why?  It is the path God designed for me.  As a small group Bible study leader, my role is to lead people to increasingly grow fond of God.  We grow fonder when we understand Him and realize how much He is involved in our lives.

Dig Deeper.  It goes without saying:  the more our heart is in it (Bible study), the more we gain.  How much we learn and understand depends on how deep we dig.  I read the Bible nearly every day.  Regular Bible reading is necessary for spiritual growth, and doing so daily offers an invaluable collection of knowledge and insight.  Add to that, time spent thinking and talking to God about what we’ve read, and we have the makings of a healthy spiritual diet.

As a writer, I want to broaden the experience for my readers.  I put time into digging deep so my readers can have more to ponder when they listen to God speak in their hearts.  Other writers do the same.  Read some of their work.  Consider what they’ve learned and how it relates to your experiences.  If you haven’t already, you will find yourself longing for and understanding more about what God has to say.  (See Hebrews 5:13-14.)

Draw Nearer.  As we read and understand more about God and His Word, we naturally draw close to Him. Knowledge develops into trust, love and closeness. As we get to know God, we love Him more.

The point of digging deeper is to understand who God is, and why our relationship with Him matters to us and to Him.  God wants an everyday relationship with us.  When we welcome Him into our daily lives, He welcomes us into His favor.  With each step, hand-in-hand with our Father, we gain understanding, insight, and clarity.  That’s the perfect place to be and I hope my writing helps people get there.  (See Psalm 145:18-19, Hebrews 10:19-23, and James 4:7-10.)

Grow Fonder.  Walking hand-in-hand with our Father gives us opportunity to see God’s truth unfold – to see His touch on every situation. God’s Word is not just a book. It is real life happening right before our eyes.  We observe a living and powerful Word. (See Hebrews 4:12-16.) The magnificence of God is not out of reach. It is part of our daily experience, and we recognize it when we dig deeper into His Word and draw nearer to Him. Then, as we see the reality of God, we grow fonder of Him.

God is involved in our lives, sometimes in ways we may never realize.  But when we do recognize how closely involved He is, we smile.  It’s remarkable.  It’s mind-boggling.  It’s special.  God is at work.  When we notice, we grow fonder of Him.  And when we grow fonder, we abide in Him, we serve Him, and we enjoy our relationship with Him.  That’s what I want for my readers.  It is my prayer in everything I write.

So, let’s dig deeper.  Let’s draw nearer.  Let’s grow fonder.  And then let’s dig deeper, draw nearer, and grow fonder…and never stop.

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