Cleland B. McAfee. Explore “Near to the Heart of God”: song information and official sources.
The pilgrim journey · Prayer and drawing near
This quiet prayer brings us before God to seek rest, comfort and the joy of drawing near to him. After perplexity, Psalm 73 affirms the good of drawing near to God; Hebrews explains that through Jesus our High Priest we can confidently ask for mercy and timely help. As we sing, we can slow down, entrust burdens we find hard to put into words to the Lord and leave quiet space for those who grieve. Drawing near to him makes us willing to examine ourselves honestly, receive forgiveness and return to the responsibilities we must bear. When the church sings together during pastoral visits or memorial services, shared prayer can also accompany those who are lonely, keeping hope in view as we support one another.
Quiet prayer, retreats, visits to the sick, care in grief and memorial services.