Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Revelation 2:4
Ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? Has the spark you once had for the big things, especially in your faith, dimmed a bit? It’s a familiar story that even the early believers in Ephesus faced, as pointed out in Revelation. They were doing all the right things but had somehow lost that initial rush of love and awe for God.
It’s like when you first discover a hobby or a passion. At first, you can’t get enough of it. But over time, the excitement wanes, and sometimes, you might even forget why you loved it in the first place. Our journey with God can feel similar. We start on fire, eager to learn, pray, and connect with God and His community. But life’s busyness, challenges, and even successes can cool that fire to embers.
King David’s rollercoaster relationship with God vividly illustrates this. After his missteps with Bathsheba and the ensuing chaos, he longed to return to pure devotion and trust in God. His heartfelt cry in Psalm 51 for a renewed spirit is a powerful call back to our first love with God.
Remember, it’s not about how perfectly we perform or how flawlessly we walk the path. It’s about the heart behind our actions—the love and desire for a relationship with God. When we are drifting, God doesn’t demand impossible feats to win back His love. He invites us to return, remember, and reignite that first love.
So, how do we do it? How do we recapture that initial spark when our spiritual life feels dim?
Prayer
Lord, in the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget You – our first love. Help us to remember and rekindle that deep, initial joy and connection we once felt in Your presence. Forgive us for letting our love grow cold and guide us back to a place of warmth, passion, and devotion. Reawaken in us a heart that yearns for You above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
- Think back to when you first felt a deep connection with God. What sparked that connection? How can you incorporate those elements into your life today?
- Identify what might have dimmed your spiritual spark. Is it busyness, sin, distraction, or something else?
Step of Faith
This week, take one step to reignite your passion for God. Maybe it’s setting aside time each day for prayer and Bible study, joining a discipleship group, or simply spending quiet time in nature reflecting on God’s love. Choose something that reminds you of why you fell in love with God in the first place.
