GROWING CLOSE, NOT DISTANT
A Clarion Call Back to Intimacy
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 (NKJV) This morning my heart keeps returning to one simple thought. Distance rarely happens all at once. No one wakes up and decides, Today I will grow far from the Lord. It happens quietly. Slowly. Almost unnoticed. A little less attention. A little more distraction. A little less lingering in His presence. And before we realize it, something inside feels different. The enemy understands this process very well. His goal is not always loud destruction. Most of the time he simply tries to distract you long enough that your heart cools without you seeing it happen. He whispers subtle lies. “God feels far away.” “He’s too busy.” “He’s mad at you.” “You’ve made too many mistakes.” “Someone like you doesn’t come close anymore.” Those whispers are old, but they still try to find a resting place in tender hearts. Yet none of them are true. The tragedy is not just distance itself. The tragedy is that distance grows. It develops momentum. The gap becomes wider unless something interrupts the drift. But hear me, dear one — the Lord is doing the opposite right now. He is drawing His bride closer, not pushing her away. While the enemy tries to separate, the Spirit whispers, Come nearer. Scripture says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” That promise is not poetic exaggeration. It is reality. The Lord does not stand at a distance waiting for perfection. He responds to the smallest turning of the heart. He is never far. He is one honest prayer away. Sometimes we imagine intimacy as something complicated, yet it often begins very simply — a heart that says, Jesus, I want You again. When He becomes more than enough, when He satisfies the ache no other affection can reach, something changes inside us. The gap closes. The coldness melts. Nearness returns like sunlight breaking through morning clouds. And suddenly you remember what it feels like to walk with Him again. I want to speak gently here, because many who read this carry a quiet ache. You don’t want to be distant. You never meant to drift. Life just became noisy. Responsibilities grew heavy. Distractions multiplied. The enemy used the ordinary to pull your gaze away. But the Lord is not disappointed in you. He is inviting you. Right now, even as you read, He is near. I sense this so strongly — the Holy Bridegroom walking among His people again, drawing hearts closer, satisfying deep places that have been hungry for a long time. We are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. We refuse to live distracted. We refuse to settle for distance when closeness is available. Beloved, the Lord is closer than breath. There are moments in prayer when you feel as though you could almost reach out and touch the hem of His robe. Those moments are not fantasy. They are invitations. They are reminders of what life was always meant to be — intimate, tender, alive with His presence. What if today became your turning point? Not by striving harder. Not by trying to manufacture emotion. But by simply becoming available. Right where you are, let these words rise from your heart: Precious Lord, draw near. I say no to distraction. Meet me here. You are all I want. Let my heart burn again at the sound of Your voice. The oil of intimacy is still flowing. The manifest presence of Jesus is still for you. The enemy wants distance, but heaven is calling for nearness. And the Lord is near. If you feel even a small stirring while reading this, don’t rush away from it. Stop for a moment. Close your eyes if you can. Whisper His name slowly. Jesus… Tell Him honestly where your heart has been. Tell Him you don’t want distance anymore. Let Him meet you in the quiet place where words become worship and longing becomes surrender. The Bridegroom is drawing close. Come closer, dear one. He has been waiting. With Love, Steve Porter www.morningglorydevo.com 🙏🏼 If you’re carrying something heavy… don’t carry it alone. Write your prayer request in the comments. We’ll read it. We’ll pray. We’ll lift you up. We are family here. And family prays together. Prayer Warriors standing by. ✝️ Would you enjoy our daily devotion straight to your email? Never miss a devotion again. The algorithm often hides our posts. Sign up here: 👉 https://substack.com/@morningglorydevo 💬 Thank you for spending a few quiet moments here. If this spoke to you, a brief comment is always a kindness — to me and to others who may be reading.




The calling of GOD for nearness and intimacy is growing. I can hear the voice of the SPIRIT calling out to all of us. Many of His people have been through some very hard times, even dark nights of the soul, but as I asked GOD in prayer, why have these times of trouble been so difficult? Why have they lasted seemingly for so long? As I quietly waited upon Him, He spoke to me in almost a whisper and softly said, "This was necessary to draw us close." As I pondered what I was told, I began to realize that all of us were being given a choice. What I am about to write isn't meant to condem or criticize but is a direct sense I received as the SPIRIT was speaking to me. The choice to draw near to GOD is always a decision. It is a daily choice, a constant decision to choose to draw nearer to our HOLY LORD. I was reminded of the parable of the virgins. What separates the 5 wise and the 5 foolish wasn't doctrine, not the church they joined, not the gifts that they had, not their upbringing, not the religion they practiced, it was how close are you drawing to our HOLY GOD? How deep is your relationship with Him? How intimate are you with Him? Will we lovingly obey Him no matter what it costs us?
My heart shuddered as I though about what I was gently told. I have decided to follow my LORD, my love, into whatever it may cost me. My life is not my own 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 14:7-9, and Jeremiah 10:23. I need to be close enough to hear His soft and gentle voice! I must be so close that I move as He blows by His gentle SPIRIT. I must be allowing Him to live His life through me. I sadly admit that I am not where I desire to be. I take courage though. I take courage because I have begun to hear the soft and gentle voice of GOD as He speaks to me. He doesn't have to shout, as He once had to. I also know that I have a long way to go! The LORD is right there with me though, bidding me closer....
I echo the voice of HOLY SPIRIT as He speaks ever so gently though this devotion.
Lets make that purposeful choice to hear and to lovingly obey the gentle voice of GOD wooing us deeper into intimacy with Him. Lets purpose in our hearts to chase after Him as if our very lives depended upon it, because He is calling us to be His mature Bride. A chaste Bride that walks along side of her BRIDEGROOM. A holy Bride that walks in deep and abiding intimacy with her BRIDEGROOM and LORD. A Bride that is yielded to HOLY SPIRIT and doesn't seek to do her will, but she seeks to do what her BRIDEGROOM does through her.
I cry out to my love, i want this my LOVE, my HOLY LORD!
Amen