This day, which began twelve short moments ago, is a new day. A new day to say anew “Have a super day” to someone new. Could be a new shopper ahead of you in a new line at an old store. But, just imagine that it could be a new experience for that individual in this new day.
It’s a new moment of this new day to thank God anew for his grace. To experience his grace once more, for putting up with the ‘old man’ that tends to reappear in me. Oh how I wish that each moment, each second of the day I could stay right there – right in His arms.
I get so distracted and so busy with lesser important things and before I realize it, all the new days so graciously given to me have become like the old days and spent on those lesser things. If Jesus really is my first love, then why do I let that happen? And I do let it happen by saying yes to all of the things that take me away from Him and on to those lesser, frivolous things.
How do I do that? How do I stay focused?
When I was young, I could see near and far very well. My vision was great. As I have aged, however, it has needed readjusting. I lost the ability to ‘focus’ well on whatever it was I was trying to see. I’ve needed glasses and as long I keep those glasses on, my vision – my focus – has been good, once again. My inability to focus has been renewed.
So… that’s the answer. In order to stay focused on God I need glasses. Glasses that have the ability to see what I can’t. Glasses that won’t come off. I need God-glasses that help me to stay focused when my vision wanders and I get off track.
I think in this New Year I will ask God for glasses. God-glasses that keep my eyes dependent on Him – for everything.
In 1 John 4 it says, “We love because he first loved us.” He loved us first. He pursued us, wanted us. He taught us what love was all about. Revelation 2 says, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance… You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.”
My first love… Jesus Christ. I have to confess that there have been times when I have lost the life, the fervency of when that first love appeared. Sort of like being “in love”. There can come a time when we grow ‘comfortable’ and can even take those we love for granted. Our affections cool off if we don’t care for those who are important to us. We forget that in order to keep the relationship strong, we must constantly be working on it. If we neglect to take this approach with the Lord, He will be grieved.
Therefore, He advises us, “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” Yes, if we just take a few moments to remember… remember how much better it was when we were focused and obedient. When peace filled our lives even in the midst of chaos. When strength ran throughout us even when I felt weak. His peace. His strength. Hope abounded in the midst of trials and faith did not falter.
Yes, how much better. So, what to do…
I have grieved over my lack of attention and neglect. I have been ashamed of disregarding the presence of the One who loves me more than anyone else ever has or ever will. I must return to the place when I fell away. The place when we walked and talked throughout the day, without end. The place where peace covered me and where strength held me. The place where nothing else mattered. The place I constantly long to be.
Matthew Henry says we should “endeavor to revive and recover [our] first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as [we] did when [we] first set out in the ways of God.”
So here I go. I want to endeavor anew and recover my zeal for Jesus. I want to display a tenderness towards Him as Mary did as she sat at his feet. I want a seriousness about this wanting – a seriousness that says no to frivolous things that distracts me and leaves me inattentive to Him. I want to pray as earnestly and to watch as diligently as I did before I fell from the height where I was set in the ways of God.
I’m going to find where I set down my God-glasses and put them back on. I need a new view.
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