Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White's counsel on drawing near to God centers on a beautiful promise: "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (3MR 17.4). This isn't merely a passive hope but involves practical, daily actions that open our hearts to receive God's transforming presence and power. **The Foundation: Prayer and Consecration** The most essential practice is spending much time with the Lord in prayer. Ellen White emphasized that drawing near to God means to be much with the Lord in prayer" (1888 823.2). This isn't occasional or hurried prayer, but consistent, earnest communion. She encouraged believers to "in humble, trustful dependence make known your wants to your heavenly Father" (18MR 139.1), recognizing that every step we take toward God is actually a response to the Holy Spirit's drawing. True prayer involves complete consecration—throwing ourselves by faith over the line from sin to righteousness, from doubt to faithand consecrating ourselves unreservedly to God, to follow His light" (1888 823.2). This means opening our hearts to accept the light God sends and maintaining that consecration daily. **Daily Meditation and Walking in God's Light** Beyond prayer, Ellen White counseled: "Walk continually in the light of God. Meditate day and night upon His character" (MH 514.3). This daily meditation transforms our perspective—we begin to see God's beauty, rejoice in His goodness, and experience our hearts glowing "with a sense of His love" (MH 514.3). She promised that through this practice, we will be uplifted as if borne by everlasting armsand empowered to "comprehend more and accomplish more than you ever before deemed possible" (MH 514.3). The practical rhythm involves watching daily at God's gates and waiting at the posts of His doors, with the promise that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint" (PH093 5.2). **Humility and Heart Preparation** Drawing near also requires humility and heart cleansing. Ellen White quoted James's counsel: Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" (LUH November 17, 1909, par. 15). This involves honest self-examination, confessing unbelief and doubt, and maintaining spiritual vigilance against "the least unholy promptings of our nature" (5T 532.1). **The Result: Grace and Transformation** As we draw near through these practical means, we receive "the grace by which to do those works which will be rewarded at His hands" (3SM 200.3). God's presence and power become exactly what every believer needs, inspiring confidence and faith in our spiritual journey (3MR 17.4). The key is consistency—making these practices not occasional efforts but a daily pattern of life, maintaining our consecration so that the light will continue to grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day" (1888 823.2). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between prayer and spiritual power? • How can we develop a consistent devotional life according to her counsel? • What role does Bible study play in drawing near to God? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=how+to+practically+draw+nigh+to+God%3F)

# Practical Steps to Draw Near to God Based on Ellen White's counsel, here is a clear, step-by-step approach to drawing near to God: ## Step 1: Make Prayer Your Foundation Begin by committing to spend much time with the Lord in prayer. Ellen White emphasized that drawing near to God means to be much with the Lord in prayer" (1888 823.2). This isn't occasional prayer, but consistent, earnest communion where you "in humble, trustful dependence make known your wants to your heavenly Father" (18MR 139.1). **Action:** Set aside dedicated time each day for prayer—not rushed or hurried, but quality time where you can pour out your heart to God. ## Step 2: Consecrate Yourself Unreservedly Take the decisive step of complete consecration. Ellen White described this as throwing yourself by faith over the line from sin to righteousness, from doubt to faithand consecrating yourself unreservedly to God, to follow His light" (1888 823.2). This means opening your heart to accept whatever light God sends you. **Action:** Make a conscious decision to surrender every area of your life to God's control. Confess any unbelief or skepticism you've harbored, and choose to trust Him completely. ## Step 3: Maintain Daily Consecration Consecration isn't a one-time event. Ellen White counseled that we must keep so near to God as to maintain our simplicity and our humilityand "guard ourselves on the right hand and on the left, that Satan shall not have any advantage" (14MR 320.4). **Action:** Each morning, renew your commitment to God. Throughout the day, maintain an attitude of dependence on Him, watching and praying continually. ## Step 4: Rely on Christ's Merits Recognize that you cannot draw near to God in your own strength. Ellen White emphasized that "we can have the Spirit and sanctifying power of the truth in our hearts if we will watch and pray and rely fully on the merits of the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world" (14MR 320.4). **Action:** In prayer, claim Christ's righteousness as your only hope. Don't try to make yourself worthy—come to God trusting in Jesus' sacrifice alone. ## Step 5: Exercise Living Faith Move beyond cold formality to genuine, expectant faith. Ellen White urged: "We may realize the special blessing of God if we will only believe and pray with living faith. We are too cold, too faithless. We expect too little. Let us draw [near] to God with full assurance of faith, and not be discouraged" (14MR 320.5). **Action:** Pray with confidence, expecting God to answer. Believe His promises and trust that He will draw near as you approach Him. ## Step 6: Respond to the Holy Spirit's Drawing Understand that every step toward God is actually a response to His initiative. Ellen White explained: "Every step you take toward God is taken in response to the drawing of the Holy Spirit" (18MR 139.1). **Action:** Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings throughout your day. When you feel convicted or drawn to pray, respond immediately rather than resisting or delaying. ## Step 7: Maintain a Living Connection Remember that spiritual growth requires ongoing communion with God. Ellen White stated clearly: "We can do nothing in the great plan of salvation without a living connection with God. We should not rest without the evidence that our ways please God" (14MR 320.5). **Action:** Throughout each day, maintain awareness of God's presence. Talk to Him about everything—your decisions, challenges, joys, and concerns. Make this connection as natural as breathing. ## The Promise As you faithfully follow these steps, claim God's promise: "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (3MR 17.4). His presence and power are exactly what every believer needs, and He is eager to come close to those who earnestly seek Him. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between prayer and receiving the Holy Spirit? • How can we know if our ways please God? • What practical counsel did she give about maintaining faith when we don't see immediate answers to prayer?

# Practical Steps to Fast and Pray While the provided documents don't contain specific step-by-step instructions on fasting, they do offer rich guidance on the prayer component that would accompany fasting. Here's a practical approach based on Ellen White's counsel on earnest, effective prayer: ## Step 1: Prepare Your Heart with Humility Begin by approaching God with genuine humility of heart. Ellen White counseled to wait before Him with humility of heartand to "pray most earnestly for an understanding of the times in which we live, for a fuller conception of His purpose, and for increased efficiency in soul saving" (Pr 42.5). This humble posture is essential—recognizing your complete dependence on God's power rather than your own efforts. **Action:** Before beginning your fast, spend time in quiet reflection, acknowledging your need for God's guidance and strength. Confess any pride or self-sufficiency. ## Step 2: Pray Without Ceasing Ellen White emphasized that "we cannot depend upon form or external machinery. What we need is the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit of God" (TM 512.1). She instructed believers to "pray without ceasing, and watch by working in accordance with your prayers. As you pray, believe, trust in God" (TM 512.1). **Action:** Throughout your fast, maintain constant communion with God. Don't limit prayer to set times—let your heart be continually lifted to Him. Combine your prayers with active trust and obedience. ## Step 3: Cultivate Living Faith Prayer during fasting must be accompanied by genuine faith. Ellen White wrote, "We may realize the special blessing of God if we will only believe and pray with living faith. We are too cold, too faithless. We expect too little. Let us draw [near] to God with full assurance of faith, and not be discouraged" (14MR 320.5). **Action:** As you pray, actively believe that God hears and will answer. Don't approach prayer with doubt or low expectations. Trust fully in "the merits of the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world" (14MR 320.5). ## Step 4: Watch in the Spirit Prayer isn't passive—it requires spiritual alertness. Ellen White counseled to "be fervent in prayer, and watch in the Spirit" (TM 512.1). This means being attentive to God's leading and responsive to the Holy Spirit's promptings during your time of fasting and prayer. **Action:** During your fast, pay careful attention to impressions, convictions, or guidance that comes through prayer. Be ready to act on what God reveals to you. ## Step 5: Combine Prayer with Thanksgiving Even when facing difficulties, maintain an attitude of gratitude. Ellen White advised, "When perplexities or hindrances present themselves, lift the soul to God in songs of thanksgiving" (Hvn 165.1). This transforms your perspective and strengthens faith. **Action:** Throughout your fast, deliberately thank God for His goodness, His promises, and His faithfulness—even before you see the answers to your prayers. ## Step 6: Maintain Your Connection Through the Day Ellen White emphasized that "we can do nothing in the great plan of salvation without a living connection with God" (14MR 320.5). Your fast should strengthen this connection, not just be a ritual. **Action:** Let your fast create space for deeper communion with God. Use the time you would normally spend preparing or eating food for additional prayer, Bible study, and meditation on God's character. ## Step 7: Seek the Holy Spirit's Power The ultimate goal of fasting and prayer is to receive divine power for service. Ellen White promised that "it is your privilege to be endowed, from day to day, with a rich measure of His Holy Spirit, and to have broadened views of the importance and scope of the message we are proclaiming to the world" (Pr 42.5). **Action:** Specifically pray for the Holy Spirit's filling and for increased effectiveness in whatever spiritual work God has called you to do. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between prayer and receiving the Holy Spirit? • How can we maintain a constant connection with God throughout our daily activities? • What counsel did Ellen White give about overcoming coldness and faithlessness in our spiritual life?