When I was 14 years old, I visited Sevan Monastery for the first time with the youth group of the Araratian Diocese. We were driving toward the Peninsula, and as we got closer, the view became more and more beautiful. The sparkling lake, the green hills, the dramatic cliffs, and finally, the magnificent Monastery—it all seemed to unfold in breathtaking glory the closer we got.

That’s exactly what happens when you get closer to God. The closer you get to Him, the more of His goodness and beauty you will see. The more you look to Him, the more you seek Him, the more His light will illuminate your life.

The Bible says in James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” That’s His promise to us. When you make the decision to pursue God, to seek Him in prayer, worship, and obedience, life takes on a whole new beauty….