Draw Near

I want to clarify something about faithfulness. You don't need to keep score on how good you've been compared to how bad you've been, focusing on either the good you do or the bad you do could lead to having a works based type faith, but faithfulness comes with obedience and devotion. God is not wanting you to look at your past or to look to your present before coming to him, he wants you right where you are. He is also not impressed with "Good works", it says in the scripture "..they are nothing but filthy rags.. (Isaiah 64:6)" What I like to sum it up is that God wants your heart. In Psalm 51, David, who was considered by God "A man after his heart" wrote, "For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it, You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a Broken and contrite spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise." This was written after his affair with Bathsheba, so as you can see David was not perfect but he has a heart of repentance.

Something about Christianity is that it can be overcomplicated and when you have gotten far from the Lord (which happens sometimes to seasoned believers as well) it can be really hard you feel like your life is a little out of control and you can't seem to get it to work. The cycles that you have left have started to creep into your life and then what do you do? It seems like every step you take towards Christ is just in vain because you are stuck. I know I am not the only one.

Luckily the bible explains the solution clearly:

"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

I feel like that is so simple because literally all we have to do is read our bible and speak to God, but for some reason the enemy loves to attack you the most when you just start doing a spiritual discipline. You wanna fast? Your family suddenly wants to eat your favorite food. You want to start reading your bible daily? The power of sleepiness overtakes you entire being. Of course the enemy makes it hard because it works. All you have to do is believe that every act of obedience you make is not in vain.

'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that you help me abide in you so that I will have a stronger relationship and will not be tossed by the wind. That my faith will increase as a result of the time I spend with you and I will not grow weary. Please silence the lies of the enemy and help me see the most important thing that I can do is to get into your presence. Will you please give me insight and wisdom as I spend time with you and make me more into the person that you have created me to be. In Jesus name, Amen.