Around my house, a lot of forgetting seems to happen. Where did I put the keys, the remote, the grocery list, etc.? There are many reasons we forget things. Sometimes, we forget even more important things than the keys, remote, or grocery lists. When my wife (Pat) was nine years old, she was a daddy’s girl, and she volunteered to go with her dad as he did some shopping in a mall near their house. A laundromat next to the store her dad was going into had a new color TV (a big deal back then), so she asked her dad if she could watch the TV while he shopped nearby. He agreed, and everything was fine until it seemed like he should have finished shopping. She looked all over but couldn’t find him, then discovered their car was gone. In the busyness of shopping and other things on his mind, he had forgotten his daughter. Without mobile phones, like we have today, she decided to make the almost 2-mile walk home. She thought he would notice that he had forgotten her and would quickly return for her. She was only a block from their home before he realized and started looking for her. By then, she was mad, choosing to walk the rest of the way home rather than get in the car. She was deeply hurt and offended that her father had forgotten her.
This event happened many years ago, and it is still remembered occasionally. Now, it is mainly told with amusement. I want to clarify that Pat's father was a good, faithful dad who greatly loved the Lord and his family. Many of us have been in a situation where we momentarily forget someone or something very important to us. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father never forgets us.
Today, there seem to be so many distractions that it’s hard to focus on what is truly important. We live in a culture of busyness, and life is almost a competition to see who can be the busiest. We often forget to make time for things that should be a priority in our lives. Maybe we are distracted by sports, work, sorrow, addictions, or other things that cause us to forget about spending real time with God.
He is always faithful, but sometimes we are not. I don’t say this to condemn you or myself, but as an honest statement about something I know I have been guilty of many times in my walk with Christ. I remember having busy days at work and at night thinking back over my long work day and realizing that I never prayed or even briefly thought about God.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 NKJV)
To be double-minded, in this sense, is to be torn between God and the world. This applies to every one of us today. In this verse, James tells us that when we draw near to God and make time for Him, He will always draw near to us, too. He is there, waiting to strengthen our faith and restore joy in our walk with Him.
The longer we walk with God, the easier it is to become complacent. Think about how on fire for Him you were when you were first saved. So, did you forget? Did you slowly move away from Him? Did you start to forget the God you once claimed as your first love?
The further we walk away from God, the more we tend to forget him and search for another god. Have you started going through the motions at your church or with your Christian friends? Maybe even unknowingly looking for a replacement for God. Possibly, after seeing all the hate in the world and division among Christians, without closely following God, you have begun entertaining the idea of “deconstructing” and leaving the faith and the God you once loved.
Friends, let today be a reminder that the God who reigns over the heavens and the earth, who saved you from your sin, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love and faithfulness never waver. He wants you to draw closer to Him. Even in your pain, doubts, and confusion, stop and reflect on the awesome wonders and glory of God.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV
Consider these questions today:
How am I spending my time?
How much time do I devote to God during the week? (Do I take time to be grateful and marvel at Him?)
Where can I reduce distractions to carve out personal time with God?
We hope this message has been inspiring and encouraging to you today. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter at alifeforchrist.org to get notified about our latest blogs, books, and other announcements! Praying that you will know God’s presence and love this week.
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