Do you ever feel like you’re working hard at your time with God—reading more, praying longer, trying harder—but missing the simple invitation to just… be with Him?
This morning, Riley reminded me what God’s been inviting me into all along.
Part of preparing for my morning time with God involves getting my dog, Riley, settled. Ordinarily, this looks like giving her permission to join me on the couch and then opening my arms and saying, “Snuggle up”—an invitation to draw as close as she wants and curl up next to me while I cover her in her favorite blanket.
She doesn’t always start snuggled up. Some days she wants her peanut butter Kong on the other end of the couch, or she stretches out on the floor. But the time always ends with her snuggled up.
This morning is definitely a “snuggle up” morning because she’s not feeling great. She got on the couch and is now lying beside me, making as much physical contact as she can without being right on top of me.
As she drew near, I felt her relax. Soon she drifted into a peaceful sleep under her blanket and tucked close to me.
At the same time, I heard the Holy Spirit say:
“This is what I invite you into—not just for our quiet time together, but for the entirety of your day. Come up to Me. Draw near. Snuggle up close. Let Me cover you as you find rest and peace in My presence. Riley has to move closer to you physically if she wants to snuggle up. But you? We are always inseparably close. You only need to renew your mind to the reality of My enveloping, wrap-around presence and your position of nearness to Me.”
This reminded me of what James wrote: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
But the truth is, He’s already near. He’s already here. I just need to become aware of what’s already true.
I realized, once more, that this time with God isn’t about how much of the Bible I can read, how much I get out of my devotional reading, or how long I pray and worship. It’s about snuggling up and being nourished and sustained by God’s nearness—His healing, loving, covering presence.
I want to make this a practice throughout the day—cultivating awareness that God is in me and surrounding me, and that He invites me to “snuggle up” with Him.
So I’m putting a note on my desk that says “snuggle up.” Another one at the front of my journal. These will serve as anchors—reminders to set my mind on His nearness and lean into Him throughout the day.
What would help you remember His nearness today? A note? A phone reminder? Ask Him—He’ll show you.
