REQUIREMENTS FOR DRAWING CLOSE TO GOD

Is money needed in order to approach God? Many people pay the clergy to pray for them.  Some even believe that their prayers will be heard in proportion to the size of the donation they make.  However, God's Word does not say that a monetary offering is required for us to approach  Jehovah in prayer.  His spiritual provisions and the blessings of the relationship with him in prayer are available without a price. -Isaiah 55:1, 2.

What, then, is required?  A right heart attitude is one essential.  (2 Chronicles 6:29, 30; Proverbs 15: 11)  In our heart we must exercise faith in Jehovah God as the "Hearer of prayer" and "the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him."  (Psalm 65:2; Hebrews 11:6) We must also have a humble heart.  (2 Kings 22:19; Psalm 51:17) In one of his illustrations, Jesus Christ showed that when approaching God a humble  tax collector with a lowly heart attitude proved more righteous than an arrogant Pharisee.  (Luke 18:10-14) As we approach God in prayer, let us remember  that "everyone that is proud in heart is something detestable to Jehovah." -Proverbs 16:5.

If we desire to have God answer our prayers, we have to cleanse ourselves of sinful conduct.  When the disciple James encouraged others to draw close to God, he added:  "Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones."  (James 4:8) Even wrongdoers can come into a peaceful relationship with Jehovah  if they repent and leave their former way of life.  (Proverbs 28:13)  We cannot have audience with Jehovah if we merely pretend that we have cleansed our way. "  "The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their supplication; but the face of Jehovah is against those doing bad things," says God's  Word. - 1 Peter 3:12.

The Bible states: "There is no man righteous in the earth that keeps doing good and does not sin." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)  You might therefore ask: 'How, then, can we approach God?" The Bible answers: "If anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper in the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one."  (1 John 2:1) Though we are sinners, we can approach God with freeness of speech through Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom for us. ( Matthew 20:28)  He is the only channel through whom we can approach Jehovah God. ( John 14:6)  We must not take the merit of Jesus' ransom sacrifice for granted and deliberately practice sin.  (Hebrews  10:26) However, if we are doing our best to refrain from what is bad and yet err at times, we can repent and ask God for forgiveness.  When we approach him with a humble heart, he will here us. -Luke 11:4.

Next time: OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO GOD

The Book - KNOWLEDGE That Leads To Everlasting Life, 1995