Go! And Call On The Lord Who Is Near - Psalm 145:18 Series

Go! And… Call on the Lord Who Is Near - Psalm 145:18

Opening: The God Who Is Closer Than You Think

There are moments in life when God feels distant—when prayers feel like they bounce off the ceiling… when the darkness seems thicker than the light… when circumstances scream: “God has forgotten you.”

But the Bible declares a different reality.

Psalm 145:18 (NLT): “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”

This verse is not a vague, hopeful sentiment. It is a divine promise from the eternal King: God is near, not to the perfect, not to the religious, but to all who call on Him in truth.

Today’s message is:

A call to the broken

A call to the wandering

A call to the discouraged

A call to every heart: Go! And… Call on the Lord Who Is Near

Because He is nearer than your next heartbeat.

1 The Lord Is Close

Let us examine the Hebrew text: the word for “close” is ?????? – qarov which means near enough to reach, near enough to help. Not distant. Not distracted. Not too busy. Near. Present. Attentive.

David is not speaking of a God who sometimes notices us…

He is speaking of the covenant-God who has drawn near to rescue.

Deuteronomy 4:7 (NLT): “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?”

Moses declares to Israel that their God is unlike any other—pagan gods demanded rituals to maybe gain a moment of attention. But Yahweh listens whenever they call.

We live in a world with thousands of distractions and digital gods competing for attention… yet only God actually attends to your cry.

The Father’s Ear

A crowded room, hundreds of voices — yet a mother recognises her child’s cry instantly. Not because the cry is special… but because the child is.

So too God hears your voice, not because your prayer is eloquent, but because you are His.

Max Lucado: “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it, not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

Max reminds us: the power is not in us—it is in the God who is close. This is why we can call boldly.

2 God Is Close to Those Who Call

The Hebrew for call is ????? – qara — meaning to cry out for help, to proclaim, to summon someone with urgency.

This is not casual prayer. Not religious routine.

This is: “God, I need You!”

Jeremiah 29:12–13 (NLT): “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

Israel was in exile—feeling abandoned. Yet God assured them: Call wholeheartedly — and I will be found.

Are you praying half-heartedly, distracted by screens, drowned by anxiety? God invites you to call upon Him with an undivided heart.

The Rescue Call

In an emergency at sea, one call can save a life. The Coastguard doesn’t care about grammar. They respond to desperation.

God responds to the cry of a heart that knows… only He can save.

Tim Keller: “Prayer is not merely a way to get things from God; prayer is a way to get God.”

Tim Keller points us to the true heart of prayer: calling upon God because we desire HIM, not merely His blessings.

3 We Must Call on Him In Truth

Psalm 145:18 does not promise closeness to everyone…

It promises closeness to those who call in truth.

Hebrew: ????? – emet

Meaning:

truth

faithfulness

sincerity

integrity

reality — not pretending

God draws near to the honest—not the pretenders.

John 4:23–24 (NLT): “The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Jesus confronts religious debate. God is not interested in rituals… He wants real worship from real hearts.

Application:

Stop performing for God.

Stop trying to impress Him.

Stop hiding behind spirituality.

Bring the real you — sins, doubts, fears and all — He already knows anyway.

Charles Stanley: “God does not listen to the prayers of the proud. He responds to the prayers of the humble.”

Humility is the key. Pride pushes God away, but humility cries, “Lord, have mercy!” and God draws near.

The Gospel Connection: Jesus the God Who Came Near

Psalm 145 finds fulfilment in Jesus Christ — God not only near in presence, but near in flesh.

John 1:14 (NLT): “So the Word became human and made his home among us.”

Jesus did not shout from heaven…

He came to us.