Remember, Repent & Return!
Just recently I was praying for God to give me one word. The word He gave me was perseverance! The definition of perseverance from the Merriam Websters dictionary is; "the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult." When I was asking God what that meant for me, He told me to press in when He urges, and to keep Him my focal point in everything, working towards what He has for me. In a book I am reading it says, "In perseverance, the hope of your first love can be restored." You think, "how can my first love be restored?" Remember, repent, and return. These three R's are very important to be able to press in and persevere into what your first love is. This could be in your marriage, in your walk with God or with your passions. In Revelations 2:3-5 it says, "And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place-unless you repent." In any circumstance we all, like the Ephesians have lost sight of our first loves and settled for something less than what God wants us to have. The first passion that we had when we gave our life to Christ or first got married sometimes can subside and become stagnant and complacent with lukewarm affection for what we're doing and where we are at.
While listening to the message this past weekend our Pastor was preaching and began to hit on some of the same things that I wanted to write about to y’all today. He stated that when you start something there is a passion that is uncontrollable! Then, as you walk things out in the growing stages of ministry the passion is left behind (my own words). We can lose some of that passion and desire that we had when we first had it ignited. So, the big question here is, "how do we go back to that first love?" Our Pastor made three amazing points! Recognize the dream, get bold and then be able to make mistakes. I also wanted to add in a few more that I felt like God was revealing to me about bringing us back to our first love. Remember, repent and Return. If your struggling in your marriage, go back to that first time you met your husband, your wedding day or even a special time you shared together and re-live that. If you have become complacent with your walk with God think back on when you first gave your life to Jesus, the passion that you had when you wanted to tell anyone and everyone about Him and what He had done in your life. Reliving these moments can re-ignite a flame that was once maybe lost in yourself. Repent: Turn from from where you are at and refocus where God wants you to be. Repentance is not a one time thing. Repentance can sometimes be a daily thing for some people! The last one is return. Return to the passion that God first gave you. Return to the things you did when your spouse was courting you and the excitement that was there. Ask God to show you these things and trust me, He will bring them to remembrance for you.
Praying you all have a beautifully blessed week!!! And remember, God loves you!
Kirste