Good morning. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Who does the drawling near first – we do. If you're not close to God, guess who moved? Now you cannot draw near to God unless you: cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. When you start putting your hands on things of the world, they get dirty. But just because you're not "doing something wrong", does not mean that you are pure. It all comes back to motives. If your heart is not pure, you cannot please God, and you will be double minded. What will be the result – be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Psalms says just the opposite for those who please God. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. You are the one with the responsibility to humble yourself. However, he just said that God gives grace to the humble. It can be exhilarating when those around you exalt you; but that pales in comparison to when God exalts you. How do we exalt ourselves – by putting others down. But we are to not speak against a brother nor judge him or her. There is only one lawgiver and judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? Remember: Judge not… Father thank You that the reader draws near to You with clean hands and a pure heart. He/she humbles himself/herself in Your presence and You exalt him/her!

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