Psalm 51:12-13
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to you.
It's truly unbelievable how busy we sometimes find ourselves getting in our daily routines. I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself running crazy trying to get deadlines met, plans made, trips organized, etc. I know that I've picked a profession in which I'll always have something to plan and work on. I've chosen full-time vocational ministry and the job/lifestyle never ends. Day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year. And I find myself speechless when I realize how fast time passes by.
I think what makes me feel worse than anything is when I look back on a day, week or month, and I see how little I've grown in my personal walk with Christ. I'm not saying that I don't pray or read the Bible during that time, but it's not enough time. I get caught up in busyness and my daily routines that sometimes I forget that I need personal, quality quiet time with my Lord and Savior. Not preparing a sermon, preparing a youth lesson or working on something for worship, but actual alone personal growth time away from my ministry work in the office. I know that I need to be personally restored in my soul and spirit so that God can speak to me more clearly and effectively use me to minister to others. If I'm too drowned by my work and my schedule, I tend to neglect opportunities God gives me to be restored in my personal walk. And that leads to me being weak in successfully sharing the Gospel with others because I don't take the time to stop and seize opportunities. Now, don't get me wrong! I love sharing Christ with people. I'm not always great with words, but I love to share His Love. It's just that I find myself not being as effective when I'm not personally taking the time to grow in my own faith and walk.
My question to you and for myself is this....do we want to pray a prayer for God to restore us the joy of salvation so that we're reminded of His Great Commission? Are we too caught up in our daily routines to remember that people need to hear about Jesus Christ? Doing work for the Lord is wonderful no matter how it's done, but it's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of doing the Lord's work and not personally taking the time to get alone and grow in Him. We cannot effectively reach others with the Gospel if we ourselves are not being personally fed by His Word daily. Once a week or a few times a month just won't do enough.
Jesus Christ died on a cross for us in order to offer restoration back to our lives that are cluttered with sin. He offers a gift for us to receive and accept so that we can live for Him and then tell others and effectively minister His Gospel.
Are you taking the time daily to be restored in His Word? Being filled with His love and learning more about Him so that you can reach others and help them turn from their evil ways? I know I need some "heart surgery" in this area and I'm going to assume that many of you do, too.
Take the time daily to be restored in God's Word.
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