Nearer, Still Nearer

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
Fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast,
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest,
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.
© Copyright 1996 by Vicky Boyd, from HymnSys, the Multimedia Hymnal System. All Rights Reserved.

All my life I have heard that anything worth doing is worth doing well…and although I strive to live up to that standard, I often fall horribly short. I tend to want to shy away from things that I don’t believe I can do well enough, and, although I am honored to serve and to be asked to serve, I sometimes do not feel worthy of that honor.

Occasionally, I get those feelings in worship and it is hard for me to feel like I have really worshipped. Worship is to assign and ascribe worth to the object of my affection. I want to give my very best to God, but I feel like I am inadequate to even come into God’s presence. I feel like my sin is so repugnant to God that I dare not even approach His throne, and as a result, I feel distant from God.

Tonight, while attending a worship conference in Nashville, TN, we were challenged to write down what this grand old hymn means to us. Here is my humble – possibly feeble – attempt:

My Lord. My Savior. My King. Father. I declare that You are the ruler of my life and that I put my complete faith and trust in You, and yet my sin disconnects my soul from You. In times when I struggle, when I hurt, when I despair, I ask that You forgive my indiscretions and weakness. I ask that You take me into Your lap and swaddle me in Your arms. Hold me close. Envelope me. Shield me. Protect me. Rock me. Comfort me. Help me feel secure, whole. Let me dwell in You and sustain my very soul with Your love.