This verse contains three imperatives (commands): #1--Draw near to God, #2--Wash your hands, and #3--Wash your heart.
The promise is that if you move closer to God--that He will also move closer to you. As you submit to His purposes (vs your own) and humble yourself before His authority (vs your own), you will discover that you are coming into His presence more intimately than you ever imagined possible. This is what you were made for--an intimate relationship with God.
In the presence of God you will recognize your own short-comings from His perspective. You will affirm your sinner status and you will want to do something about it. The command is to wash your hands. In Celebrate Recovery, we are taught to take a fearless moral inventory that involves making a list of those that we have harmed and those that have harmed us. This is a confession to God and a confession to ourselves of offenses that we have committed and those that have been committed against us. It is washing our hands.
The third command in James 4:8 is to purify your heart. It needs to be washed because it is double-minded vs single-minded or Christ-minded. In my experience, the act of making a moral inventory and then having the courage to share it with a trusted friend is what heals my double-minded heart. This is painful and yet safe because God is a God of grace--He gives a greater grace (James 4:6).
Today, let me suggest that you draw near to God by humbling yourself. As you live today, keep a piece of paper handy--make a list of offenses--both by you and against you. Confess them as quickly as you become aware of them to the God of grace. Trust me, if you will, then you will find an amazing intimacy with the Father today. He will draw near to you!
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