When the Honeymoon is Over part 1
Because falling out of love with your
spiritual routine doesn't mean you've stopped loving God.
Scripture Focus: Revelation 2:4–5,
James 4:8, Psalm 51:12
Have you lost the excitement of going spending
intimate time with God? Does going to church feel like a chore…just something
else on your to do list? Do you remember when you first gave your life to
Christ?
You couldn't wait to get to church.
You wanted to read your Bible, listen to sermons, and tell everybody about the
goodness of God. You were so excited to be free from that old life of sin.
You were on fire for God!
But, then life started lifeing. The
bill came do, and the money was short. The kids weren’t acting right and neither
was your spouse. Your job demanded more and more, so you didn’t have time to
pray.
Now, you sometimes struggle to pray
for five minutes. And, if you find time to pray…(usually in your car on the way
to work)…it’s to ask God for something. It’s not the same intimate relationship
you used to have with Him.
Your Bible sits unopened for days. And
those powerful moments you once experienced in God's presence seem fewer and
farther between.
You still believe in God. You still
love Jesus. You haven't abandoned your faith. No, you couldn’t do that! Not
after all the things God has brought you through.
I know for me the thought of going
back to the old life of sin and shame is unthinkable.
But the fire doesn't seem to burn as
brightly as it once did.
If you are experiencing this, you are
not alone. There are many of us, Christians, who are experiencing the same
thin. This is the end of the spiritual
honeymoon phase. The romance of first finding God is over. And, the really hard
times have started. And, no, I am not talking about a valley experience. I am
talking about the every day…boring…uneventful life of being a Christian.
The good news? Your relationship
with God doesn't have to end just because the excitement has faded. In fact,
this may be where a deeper, more mature relationship with Him begins.
Understand That Spiritual Excitement and Spiritual Intimacy Are Not the Same
Thing
When we first become Christians,
everything feels new. Remember, when you first got married? Remember when you
first moved into your house? It’s the same kind of high.
You discover scriptures you've never
heard before or if, like me, you’ve heard them, they take on a new meaning.
You experience the joy of forgiveness.
We begin to recognize God's hand in our lives.
It's exciting!
But just like a marriage, our
relationship with God cannot survive on excitement alone.
Think about a couple who has been
married for twenty years. They may not experience the same butterflies they
felt during their first few dates, but their love can become stronger, deeper,
and more meaningful.
Why?
Because they've learned to love each
other beyond their emotions.
The same principle applies to our
relationship with God.
There will be days when worship feels
powerful and days when you don't feel much of anything. There will be times
when you eagerly open your Bible and times when reading a few verses of your Bible
requires discipline.
Spiritual maturity means learning to
pursue God even when the emotional excitement isn't there.
Your faith cannot be built entirely on
how you feel.
Second Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that
we walk by faith, not by sight. That means we don’t walk by feelings. We don’t
allow how we feel to dictate how we treat our relationship to God.
And, sometimes faith looks like
opening your Bible when you don't feel inspired, whispering a prayer when
you're exhausted (It can be a short one), or choosing obedience when your
emotions are pulling you in another direction.
That's not necessarily a sign of weak
faith.
Sometimes, that's what growing faith
looks like.
Go Back to Your First Love
In Revelation 2:4–5, Jesus speaks to
the church at Ephesus about something that should make every Christian examine
their heart.
He tells them they have left their
first love. Their first love was Christ. And, he should also be our first love.
What's interesting about all of this is
that this particular church was doing many things right. They were working,
persevering, and standing against false teaching.
Yet, something important was missing.
Their love had grown cold.
Does that sound familiar?
You can attend church every Sunday,
serve on three committees, sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, and still
feel spiritually disconnected.
I know for years, I attended a church where
I was busy…busy…busy. I sang in the choir. I did the church programs. I
decorated the church for every occasion. I posted all of the pastor’s sermons
online. I wrote out all the church announcements. I was doing…doing. But, I was
spiritually starving. I felt disconnected. It wasn’t a big disconnect, but I was
spiritually stagnant…complacent.
I was busy doing things for God
while neglecting time with God. I was busy doing, but I wasn’t growing.
I wasn’t developing in my relationship with Christ.
And, sadly, that's where many
Christians find themselves.
We become so accustomed to the routine
of Christianity that we forget the relationship at the center of it.
Jesus calls the church to remember,
repent, and return to the things they did at first.
Maybe it's time to remember what drew
you to Christ.
Remember those moments when you knew
you needed His grace.
Remember the prayers you prayed when
you had nowhere else to turn.
Remember the peace you experienced
when you finally surrendered something you had been trying to control.
But don't return simply to recreate an
old feeling.
Return because the One who loved you
then is still worthy of your love today.
Stop Treating Prayer Like Another Item on Your To-Do List
Somewhere along our Christian journey,
prayer can become a routine we rush through instead of a conversation we
treasure.
We pray before meals. We pray before
bed. We pray when there's a problem.
But when was the last time you simply
sat with God?
Not asking Him to fix anything.
Not presenting a list of needs.
Not rushing to get to the next
activity.
Just spending time in His presence.
Don’t feel bad if your answer is not
what it should be. I’m guilty too!
One of the greatest ways to rebuild
intimacy with God is to change how you approach prayer.
You don't always need an elaborate
prayer filled with beautiful words.
Sometimes, the most meaningful prayer
is simply:
"Lord, I miss how close I used to
feel to You. I don't know what changed, but I want to know You more deeply.
Help me find my way back to a consistent relationship with You."
God already knows what's in your
heart.
You don't have to pretend with Him.
If you're tired, tell Him.
If you're disappointed, tell Him.
If you're struggling with doubt, bring
those questions to Him.
If you feel spiritually empty,
acknowledge it.
The Psalms are filled with people
expressing grief, frustration, fear, confusion, and longing before God.
Psalm 62:8 encourages us to pour out
our hearts before Him.
Intimacy grows where honesty lives.
And sometimes rebuilding your prayer
life begins with dropping the religious performance and simply being honest
with your Heavenly Father.
When was the last time you were truly
honest with God? So, today, do an evaluation of your life. Look at your relationship
with Christ, and begin to rebuild your relationship with Him.
