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As you may have experienced in life, being a believer in Jesus Christ does not always mean a vase filled with vibrant red roses or luminous beams of sunshine cascading through a royal-blue sky. Perhaps you’ll nod your head in agreement, but there are days when I feel very close to my Heavenly Father, and on other days, I simply don’t. Currently, as my fingers type these words, I find my faith is sloshing around near the top of the spiritual pickle jar, and quite honestly, I have nobody to blame but myself.
Why, you might be asking? Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve identified three things while sitting at my kitchen table, sipping hot coffee, pondering my faith-challenged dilemma, and watching a squirrel in my backyard run up and down the same tree multiple times as though he is hopelessly lost.
First of all: Even when I fall away and don’t nurture my faith, God loves me and never changes.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT)
“'I am the Lord, and I do not change. Now return to me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Malachi 3:6 NLT)
When our faith is tested and we drift away and become lazy, it’s incredible to think that God does not do the same. He is a constant that never changes, so He is always there to welcome us back when we reset our hearts and souls to come back into the fold of Christ Jesus.
Secondly: I’ve not been faithfully reading my Bible the way I should.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalms 119:105)
If you are anything like me, I find it easy to find time for everything else but reading my Bible. I suspect the devil enjoys that very much and loves when a busy life keeps me apart from the very book that transforms lives. I need to set aside more time to read my Bible. We cannot grow our faith without filling our hearts with God’s word.
Finally: I’m not seeking out sufficient one-on-one time with the Lord, as he so desperately craves.
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” (James 4:8 NLT)
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 NLT)
Even at the best of times, life is stuffed with harrowing challenges. We need to really work hard to stay upright and, preferably, happy. Our faith journey also requires diligent effort on our part, and if we don’t plug away at it, we may find ourselves treading brine in the spiritual pickle jar—a place I’d rather not be!
Paul Smyth
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