Do you have a minute?
Can I be honest?
Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair. I have a confession to make…
I’ve been lukewarm recently.
Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
I haven’t been studying my Bible like I know I should. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been reading my Bible. But I haven’t been really studying it. I haven’t been digging in, trying to figure out how it applies to my life and letting it change me.
I haven’t been praying like I know I should. Again, I’ve been praying, but lately I have felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling. So, I wasn’t praying with conviction… like I expected answers or change… and my prayers have been a little one-sided, a lot of talking, little listening… KWIM?
I haven’t been intentional about my faith like I know I should. I wasn’t doing anything grossly wrong, per se. I’ve been attending my church. We even watch LifeChurch.tv during the week, I just wasn’t striving to maintain my relationship with Christ.
Recently, one of my Pastor’s shared this passage in her sermon…
Revelation 2: 4-5 (New International Version)
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
It struck a chord.
Last night we watched part 3 of At The Movies, a sermon series by Pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv. In his sermon, Craig discussed the When-Then Mentality.
Again, it struck a chord.
I had rested on my spiritual laurels (i.e. relied on my past achievements instead of working to maintain or advance my walk). When I first became a Christian, I loved to study my Bible, pray, and worship. But, recently, it had become routine and I was just going through the motions.
But, today it changed. I realize that I am my best me when I am striving to maintain a vibrant relationship with Christ. I am not happy being lukewarm. I’m not happy with resting on my laurels. I’m not pleased with the person I have been… the wife, the mother, the homemaker, or the friend I’ve been.
So, I repented. I told Jesus that I am sorry that I treated him like a distant cousin rather than my Lord, my leader, and my best friend, and I asked him to forgive me. Then, I decided…
If I want something I haven’t had then I will have to do something I haven’t been doing.
I will study my Bible. I am joining the 90-Day Challenge hosted by MomsToolBox.com. I’ve been reading the Chronological Bible plan over at YouVersion, so I am going to add the Bible in 90 Days plan to my reading plans, and go from there.
I will start using SOAP again. SOAP is a method of Bible Study. We actually learned SOAP several years ago from a friend, but somewhere along the way, i stopped using it.
S is for Scripture—take time to read the Bible and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, write down one verse, or passage, that particularly spoke to you..
O is for Observation—what is God saying to you in this scripture? After asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you, write down your observations, and maybe even summarize what you read.
A is for Application—ask yourself how the scripture applies to your life right now. Write it down.
P is for Prayer—prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Write it down.
I will pray with an earnest heart.
I will be intentional about my faith.
And you know what? Within the same hour, I saw God answer a prayer that has been on my heart, and on my lips, for months.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I’m not saying I won’t mess up. I’m not saying I won’t skip a day of reading, or be cranky, or offer up an only half-hearted prayer occasionally. I’m not saying I am gong to be perfect or suddenly become the best wife, mother, and homemaker on the block. I’m not saying there won’t be days where I barely have time to breathe, let alone read, between cleaning messes, running errands, and raising kids.
I am saying I am going to STRIVE.
In the words of Joel Hemphill… He’s still working on me, to make me what I truly ought to be….
I’m so glad that He’s still working on me!
How about you?
Be blessed,
Virginia
Lady V dZine
