Our Hope: Find Your First Love, Again

Do you remember when Jesus became your First Love?  That day was special to you, and still is.  But somewhere along the way, you have, like so many of us, lost something of that exciting feeling.  You no longer have the exuberance for Christ you once did.  You still love Him, but life has been allowed to come between you and Him.  The good news is you can indeed find your First Love again.

‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (HCSB)

When the Holy Spirit touches us and tells us that we are not quite who we should be in Christ, then we should be listening.  God created us to need Him, which means ALL of Him.  When you have recognized something is missing in your spiritual walk, and you wish to experience a rebirth of the person you have been, to the person you want to be, then there are steps that can be taken that will create in you a new spirit, a new determination, a new longing for your First Love.

Pray.  Prayer is hard for many of us.  It’s not that we don’t want to pray, we just don’t know how to pray.  We hear others pray out loud and we worry that we cannot pray like that.  But that is not what we should be thinking.  Who cares if you don’t have a vocabulary like the professor down at the local college?  Who cares if you stumble, looking for the right words?  And who cares if you become distracted when you are trying to pray?  God understands all of it.  He knows our fears and insecurities, and He knows how we often cave in to distractions.  But here is the thing about our God…if you will try, if you will go to Him, and simply talk to Him, over time He will give you the confidence to know that He hears you, He loves you, and He is pleased that you are spending time with Him.

Read your Bible.  Make time.  Schedule a manageable amount of time each day, preferably early in the morning, to sit down, pray, and read.  If you don’t know where to start, try the Book of John, in the New Testament.  Read some Psalms, and some Proverbs as well.  These places will lead you to others in due time.  And you will find that God Himself will lead you and guide you and He will reveal Himself to you in ways you have never known.

Go to church.  Don’t go to just any church.  Search out a Bible believing, Bible teaching church where the Word of God is preached and taught, and where the name of Jesus is praised.  Get to know the people, and find a Sunday school or small group to join.  Visit several to find where you fit in.  Once you have made the connection, you will not only have new friends, but you will have guidance and understanding of the church that Jesus began and sustains.

None of these steps are difficult.  They may be a bit daunting at first, but once you begin to do them on a regular basis, you will find yourself drawn to them.  These things will renew you, they will give you a fresh perspective, and you will find your way back to your First Love!

Jesus is Our Hope.   And because He is Our Hope, we can have peace knowing His love for us is perfect and pure, and He will never, ever leave us or forsake us.

Has Jesus brought hope to you that you desperately needed?  If so, how?

‘We love Him, because He first loved us.’  1 John 4:19 (KJV)

Blessings!