My favorite definition of the word near is: in a close or intimate manner

Near. My children are constantly near. Following me into my bedroom, hanging on my hip, sitting next to me on the couch, touching my foot under the table. These are all endearing and tangible ways to love their mom and for me to provide security.  Nearness is their love language for now.

I never thought of the word near as a way to define a love language until I thought a bit about the nearness of the Lord. We often think of Him as a distant, all-seeing giver of life and death. He creates, He governs, He takes away, and it’s all out of love from afar. Although I have thought these things in the past, I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that God isn’t a distant ruler somewhere off in the clouds, sitting on a throne with scepter in hand, waving a finger in superiority. He came down a man, His Spirit is our counselor, and He is close at hand.

Here are twelve verses to bring you hope about the nearness of God.  I hope that they can draw you close to Our Father.

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Joshua 1:9 ESV 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV 

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Psalm 23:4 ESV 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 139:7-10 ESV 

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

John 10:27-30 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Romans 8:38-39 ESV 

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:19 ESV 

And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Hebrews 3:6 ESV 

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 John 1:7 ESV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.