DON'T LOSE THE JOY

My wife and I took the opportunity last week to spend a fun day together. So putting both my ego and my personal safety in my back pocket I climbed on the back of her fifty cc motor scooter and allowed her to ferry me on a thirty kilometer trip to Hinze Dam (a picturesque, local picnic area). We haven’t laughed, joked and communicated so much in years. The fun, the joking and the laughter, in fact, enabled us to communicate in a way that the hectic, chaotic life of working parenting seldom (if ever) allows. It brought an even deeper level of appreciation and understanding to an already loving relationship.

I love my wife but now I realize how much I love to spend time with her, to have fun with her. I realised that this probably applies to my relationship with Christ. Do I have fun with Him? Is there enough joy in our relationship? Or is it a relationship determined by “busy”ness and problem solving ?

On reflection I realized that it’s largely the latter. My relationship with Christ is a serious thing, because I am a serious Christian. Serious? Yes, but Joyless? I hope not. Christ probably wouldn’t know that, however, by the way I relate to him. I tend to primarily share my problems with him as my self-imposed, hectic lifestyle allows.

I realize this is largely what I’ve been sharing with my wife – my problems, issues, and challenges. Last week we shared none of that. We just enjoyed each other’s company – and grew closer together.

I want that with Jesus.

In our time at the picnic area Julie and I shared something profound: our dreams and aspirations. We started to connect with each other’s vision for our lives. It is a shared vision, but we hadn’t taken the time to reaffirm that.

This gorgeous day has made me aware that I have lost touch with Christ’s vision for my life. I think I’ve drifted away from that by letting my faith be dictated by my life rather than my life by my faith. This was supported by a powerful, convicting meeting with my pastor only yesterday.

IT’S TIME-OUT TIME!

It’s time to grab some intimate, uninterrupted time with my Lord and listen to him. Stop whining and just LISTEN!!!!!

And then I might stop being busy and start being productive. Stop feeling tired, stretched and shredded and start feeling powerful and effective. See my relationship with Christ as an empowering, joyful thing and not just as a sounding board for my problems. Hey, I might even learn of Christ’s true vision for my life instead of trying to conveniently fit him into mine.

Precious Lord Jesus, forgive my hard heartedness. Forgive my determination to keep busy with “stuff” – good “stuff” though it may be – without taking the time to share and verify it with you. Give me the discernment to recognize the things that are drawing me away from your vision for my life and the strength to let them go. And return to me the passion, joy and intimacy I shared with you before I got too busy. Amen