NEAR
God Is Nearer Than You Think
What if God is not far away, but nearer than you think?
Near is an invitation to slow down, set your attention on Jesus, and become more aware of the presence of God in the ordinary rhythms of life.
Through Scripture, personal reflection, hymns and songs, piano meditations, and simple practices, the book invites you not merely to read—but to listen, reflect, respond, and encounter.
Now Available
Paperback $14.99 - Kindle $12.99
Signed copies will also be available
directly from Paul in limited quantities.
Details coming soon.
More Than a Book to Read
Read · Listen · Reflect · Practice · Encounter
Near is designed to be more than a collection of words on a page.
Each chapter brings together Scripture, personal reflection, hymns and songs, accompanying piano meditations, and simple practices to help you slow down and become more attentive to the presence of God.
The invitation is not simply to learn something new, but to make room to listen, respond, and walk with Jesus more intentionally in the rhythms of everyday life.
The Hymns
The hymns and songs woven throughout Near are more than familiar melodies from the past.
They carry Scripture, theology, testimony, and prayer. For generations, they have helped followers of Jesus remember what is true, give language to faith, and turn their hearts again toward God.
Many of these songs have shaped my own life of faith. Their words have accompanied seasons of joy, waiting, worship, loss, trust, and renewed hope.
In Near, they become part of the journey—inviting you not only to read their words, but to listen again, reflect, and allow their truths to settle more deeply into your heart.
Each reflection is accompanied by a piano meditation, creating space to linger with the Scripture, the story, and the song.
A Heritage
Long before I understood the depth of their theology, the hymns of the Church were already shaping my faith.
Their melodies and words became part of the spiritual language of my life—teaching me to trust, worship, remember, and turn my heart toward God.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate them not simply as songs from another generation, but as a rich inheritance of truth carried through music.
In Near, I wanted to honor that heritage while also placing it in a fresh setting—alongside Scripture, personal reflection, piano meditation, and simple practices that can help these truths speak again into everyday life.
My hope is not merely to preserve these songs, but to help another generation discover the faith, beauty, and wisdom they carry.
A Journey into God’s nearness
Near unfolds as a journey through the many ways God meets us, forms us, strengthens us, and draws us deeper into life with Him.
Each chapter explores a different dimension of His nearness:
Near: A Heart Awakening
Near in Love’s Embrace
Near in Faithful Goodness
Near in the Shepherd’s Voice
Near in Daily Strength
Near in Quiet Rest
Near in Love Without Measure
Near in the Shelter of His Care
Near to the Name Above All Names
Near in Deep Satisfaction
Near to the Worthy One
Near in the Wonder of Creation
Near Under His Blessing
Near — Until We See Him
Together, these reflections invite you to notice the presence of God in Scripture, worship, stillness, beauty, weakness, trust, and the ordinary rhythms of everyday life.
The journey is not about finding a distant God.
It is about learning to recognize the One who is already near.
Who this book is for
Near is for those who love Jesus and yet sometimes find it difficult to remain aware of His presence in the middle of everyday life.
It is for those who are spiritually hungry, but weary of noise, hurry, and the pressure to keep performing.
It is for those who want to hear God’s voice more clearly, grow in trust, and discover a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and joy in walking with Him.
It is for those who appreciate Scripture, music, reflection, and simple practices that help faith move from something we know into something we live.
Whether you are in a season of waiting, rest, renewal, transition, or simply longing for a quieter and more attentive life with God, Near is an invitation to slow down and remember:
God is nearer than you think.
What I hope you discover
My hope is that Near will help you become more aware of the presence of God in the ordinary moments of life.
That you will learn to recognize His voice with greater clarity.
That Scripture will become not only something you read, but a place where you encounter the living God.
That worship and music will help quiet the noise within you and turn your attention again toward Jesus.
That simple practices of prayer, reflection, and stillness will become rhythms that help you remain rooted in His presence.
And that, over time, you will discover a deeper peace, a clearer sense of purpose, and a renewed joy in walking with God day by day.
Near is not an invitation to strive harder for God.
It is an invitation to become more attentive to the One who is already near.
Praise for Near
“Paul’s intimacy with God has woven together a profound tapestry of music, poetry, theology, Scripture, and understanding for all of us to be enriched by.
Paul lives what he writes. The keys of his piano merely put music to a life well lived.”
— Kathi Pelton, Inscribe Ministries
Why I wrote near
Near grew out of a conviction that has become increasingly important to me over the years:
God is near.
And much of the spiritual life is learning to live awake to His presence.
Through years of ministry, Scripture, music, prayer, waiting, joy, disappointment, and ordinary life, I have seen again and again how easy it is to become distracted from the One who is already with us.
I wrote Near because I wanted to create something that would help people slow down, listen, and become more attentive to the presence of Jesus.
Not simply to gain more information about God, but to recognize His voice, receive His truth, and walk with Him more intentionally in the rhythms of everyday life.
The book also gave me a way to bring together several things that have shaped my own journey—Scripture, pastoral reflection, hymns, piano, prayer, and simple spiritual practices.
My hope is that Near becomes more than something you read.
I hope it becomes a companion that helps you notice, remember, and respond to the God who is already near.
Music has always been part of the way I experience the presence of God.
The hymns and songs woven through Near are not simply referenced on the page. Each reflection is accompanied by a piano meditation created to help you slow down, listen, pray, and linger with the truths you have just read.
Sometimes a melody carries truth into the heart in a way words alone cannot.
So the invitation of Near is both simple and intentional:
Read the words.
Hear the music.
Reflect on the Scripture.
Make space for God’s presence.
Together, the written reflections and piano meditations create room not simply to think about God, but to become more attentive to the One who is already near.
Listen along with Near
Each chapter of Near is accompanied by a piano meditation created to extend the reflection beyond the page. These meditations are an invitation to slow down, listen, pray, and remain with the truth of each chapter a little longer.
The full collection is available in the
Near Piano Meditations playlist on YouTube.
An Excerpt from
Near in Daily Strength
How encouraging it is to know that the Lord is leading and guiding us throughout our lives. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leads us onward through our days.
And perhaps the greatest delight is to know His presence not only in the “peaks” of life, but day by day and moment by moment.
God promised Joshua, “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” Jesus repeated that promise to His followers: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When we come again to this place of remembrance—that the Lord is near, that He never leaves and never forsakes us—we discover a growing confidence that we are secure and held in His care.
So where is your focus today?
Is it fixed upon the circumstances surrounding you, or upon Jesus—the One who is nearer to you than your breath?
The invitation is to turn again.
To set our gaze upon Jesus.
To receive from Him the strength and courage needed for the next faithful step.
Near is coming soon.
If this journey toward a more attentive life with God resonates with you, I’d be glad to have you join the launch list.
You’ll be among the first to know when Near is available, along with occasional updates, reflections, and resources connected to the book and the wider Near journey.
God is nearer than you think.