By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8

God is close to those who draw near to Him. Unfortunately, many believers do not get to this level because of lack of faith and double mindedness. If you want to remain close to God, you must love what He loves and hate what He hates. Two cannot walk together unless they agree. Repentance aligns us up to be in sync with God. If you don’t take repentance seriously, then you can part ways with God and not even realize it. You cannot do away with what you love. If you love what God hates then repentance will be difficult. And that will create a big barrier and prevent you from walking closely with God.

The Scriptures tell us to draw near to God and God will draw near to us. This simply means to adjust your position and agree with God by engaging in what He engages in so two of you can now walk closer in one direction and for one purpose which is to execute His will.

We are therefore encouraged by scriptures not to be unwise but to find out what the will of God is and walk in it. In another verse it is described as walking in the light because God is in the light.

Secondly if we walk in darkness the devil will keep coming and trying to keep you there and to take advantage of you because you are walking in his domain.

People who walked with God in the scripture were peculiar. They were different from those in their generation. The presence of God in their life distinguished them. God could be seen at work in them and through them. You can identify them by their fruits; the life they lived. They had power with God and man because God was directing them.

Enoch lived in constant fellowship with God for more than three hundred years. Noah was a righteous man; the only blameless person on earth at the time. He also walked in close fellowship with God.

Lot was displeased by the sinful practices of Sodom and Gomorrah. He hated what God hated and so could not choose that lifestyle. He did not love it. He loved righteousness. Same as God. You can see how he walked in agreement with God

Prayer of consecration is important when you want to improve on your relationship with the Holy Spirit or your walk with God. It is something to crave and pray about often. Don’t treasure anything or anyone above God. If you Love God with all your heart you will love His company and His word and His Church which is part of His body.

It is really unfortunate that a lot of Christians are not familiar with other types of prayers as they should. They mainly pray one type of prayer; prayer to get something from God of natural value.

Prayer of consecration is to dedicate your life and consecrate it to God. Pray to receive spiritual investment into your life that will help you live a life that is in line with God’s will. Here is a good one by Paul

Colossians 1:9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.NLT

Take time and study the prayers the Holy Spirit recorded for us to learn from and pray them for yourself. It will be of immense benefit in your walk with God. This will be a great Christmas gift when God answers such prayers. Prayer of Consecration is prayed always as the Lord inspires you. It is a prayer for every day. Unlike the prayer to get natural things which is prayed and received by faith when you pray. It is also very good for your family and your church.

Have a Merry Christmas and give someone the gift of the gospel this Christmas. Help someone know Jesus this season and that will be greatest gift of all.

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of The Living Word Church East Orange, New Jersey.