I CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me,” (Psalm 63:1-8, NASB).

When we fall in love with someone, we spend time with him or her and willingly tend to the relationship. But when it comes to a relationship with Jesus, Christians often rush through Bible reading and prayer, keeping faith alive by habit rather than worship. Lasting intimacy with God, however, comes by means of purpose and determination.

Purpose. Notice how King David advised the leaders of Israel: “‘Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord,’” (1 Chronicles 22:19, NASB). As Christians, we must choose to pursue God and incorporate spiritual disciplines into our life; it doesn’t just happen. We must be intentional about praying to understand the Lord’s ways – He loves answering that plea.

Determination. Isaiah told Yahweh, “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness,” (Isaiah 26:9, NASB). Even when we don’t feel like investing time in our relationship with Christ, we must resolve to do so. Everywhere is in the presence of God and as we diligently seek the Lord, we are in position to experience His presence in our worship.

Jesus brings joy into the Christian’s life, but we must give Him the time to do so – and not simply our leftover minutes. God gives us His best; we should put forth no less in return.

~Jeff