I’m still getting back into the swing of this blogging thing. It’s like trying to use muscles that have atrophied, almost like learning how to walk again. The same thing applies when we try to pick up where we left off in our relationship with God. Depending on how long we’ve strayed away from Him, our walk can feel totally new. Whether it’s your first time or 15th time coming to Christ, building and maintaining relationship with Him is not a walk in the park.
Walking with God begins by crawling. Crawling to (or back to) Him, just as we did with our parents when we were babies, and trusting Him to teach us how to stand and walk, knowing that He’ll catch us when we fall. Falling is inevitable, because we’re human, but God will always be there to brace it. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will never leave or forsake us.
Image source: Executive Forum |
This made me think of one of my favorite songs, “You’ll Never Leave Me,” from gospel artist Will McMillan’s 2018 project, My Story (check out my review of the album here). The song speaks about God as a constant vs. the fickleness of human nature. It’s one of those songs that makes you stop and reflect on where you are in Him.
[Verse 1]:
You’re so consistent at being consistent in Your ways
Your ways
And I’m so consistent at being inconsistent each day
My ways
I’ve made the choice to fall many times
To get up and fall again and again
While Your love shows me how to reach for Your hand every time
There’s SO much to unpack here! First of all, God specializes in consistency. He is the only constant in this ever-changing world. And we were made in His image, but we are not Him. We start things in earnest—setting aside time to read our bibles, to pray, to do what it is He’s called us to do—and then we become overwhelmed, preoccupied, distracted, discouraged make excuses as to why we CHOSE not to finish what we started. The only thing we’re consistent in is inconsistency. God knows this, of course, because He created us—and still, in spite of our lack of follow-through, being the gracious Father that He is, God extends His hand and teaches us how to commune with Him again—and the best part is, each embrace feels like the first time—only deeper.
[Chorus]:
For when I fall
You’re there to catch me
And if I fall again
You’re there to do the same
Lord, You keep Your grace around me
You’ll never leave me
The keyword here is “never.” Webster’s dictionary blessed me on this one! The word “never” means “not ever : at no time; not in any degree; not under any condition.” That means no matter how many times I fall short, no matter how many times I drop the ball, no matter how many times I tell Him I want to quit the thing(s) that He called me to, He. NEVER. Leaves. ME! And His gifts never leave me either.
The song says:
Even when I’m wrong
Even when I fall
You’re always with me
You’ll never leave me alone
God literally wouldn’t leave me alone about this blog. Every few days during my hiatus, He’d nudge me and ask, “Why aren’t you writing?” I’d come up with some lame excuse, and each time He’d say, “Do as you’re told.” And then He let me sit there and think about what He said and what I was doing. Still, He was gracious enough to wait until I was ready, and now, He’s giving me fresh oil to write again.
A word of encouragement for those who are having trouble picking up where they left off: If God called you to it, DO IT! Just because you haven’t used your gift in a while doesn’t mean you’ve lost it. It just needs a good stir!
Watch a live performance of "You'll Never Leave Me" below:
Wow! I am so glad that God will never leave me, even when I fall!
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Woah! Okay God, I hear you! Sis I absolutely love the conviction, and the truth in this. I love how God was reminding you that you needed to operate in purpose even when you didn't feel it
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They could be found behind the couch, or underneath the kitchen table, all curled up while they hold their favorite stuffed animal, their bottle and a bed spread. Only very few kids are really willing to go to bed at a sensible time; they definitely are a minority. toddler house bed
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