[jwh_Denver]

I have found that living a lifestyle of worship works. We are created to worship Him. I firmly believe that He inhabits the praises of His people. In that inhabitation when His presence is so present, you can't help but to be drawn closer to Him.

This is the pure essence of why I posted this thread. When your "lifestyle" of worship gains momentum "you can't help but to be drawn closer to Him."

Very beautifully and accurately stated.

[PleaseNoMore]

Is it at all ironic that I learned to be closest to Him during the times that it seemed that He was so far away? :o)

My experience is that learning to live a (true) life of worship is born out of the trials and tribulations that we all go through. It is so easy to feel close to God when all is rosey and the blessings are pouring out of the windows of heaven like rain and the ground of our life is saturated.

It is the deserts that we go through that we learn to worship Him and to draw close to Him. It is in these deserts that we set aside all of our theology, doctrines and religion and place out total dependency upon Him. This is where we learn His mercy, His grace and His total and complete love for us. It is when we allow "self" to end and Him to take over and consume us and our situation(s). It is when we learn to be still and know that He is God. I also believe that this is the place in our spiritual lives where we learn to pray and move upon the heart of God.

Just my .02 :o)