Putting Effort into the Foundation

I need to put more effort into my relationship with God. Life gets tough, and the stress it brings weighs me down. But I know that God is good. Life can become overwhelming at times due to finances, personal problems, etc., but I’m thankful because the foundation God established in me still remains. It’s that belief in who God is and has been to me that continues to fan the flame, no matter how small it gets at times. Yesterday’s may not always be great, but today is a new day and a new opportunity to rekindle our relationship with God in our lives, and that’s what I intend to do as long as He still has mercy on me.

Lack of Genuine Relationship Results in Lack of Peace

A life without God lacks peace. I say this because it’s what I’ve experienced and am experiencing again. I’ve taken small steps to get back on track. I know that a relationship with God isn’t just about “sprinkling” in godly practices and some time with God. No. A relationship with God is a commitment and a lifestyle. It’s a life grounded in a constant relationship with God. Anything less than a genuine, ongoing relationship with God will always leave a void in our hearts. That’s why we sometimes feel empty and lonely — because our commitment to God is lacking.

Insightful Quote Serves as Reminder

I was watching an interview with Jaafar Jackson last night when he said something that stood out to me. His lead role as Michael Jackson in the legendary superstar’s biopic is Jaafar’s first-ever film role. He had no previous acting experience. He said that before immersing himself in the role, he met with his acting coach to learn about acting. He wanted to find out, “What is acting?” The decision to focus on the fundamentals of acting before fully immersing himself in the role was a wise choice. It might seem obvious, but Jaafar admitted that he’s always been a fan of his uncle’s music and has studied his moves in the past. He could have gone into it without learning more about acting, but he knew the role would require much more than just being a fan of the music and dance.

Jaafar Jackson understood that there was a foundation to what he was about to pursue. I believe this is similar to how we handle life’s challenges. We can’t navigate relationships, careers, ministry, or any venture without a solid foundation. Jaafar’s foundation for becoming an actor was to learn about acting. As Christians, our foundation should be to develop a genuine relationship with God.

Focusing on our Relationship to God First

Relationships take time and effort. I’ve struggled with rebuilding and creating new connections because getting hurt causes pain. I’m not perfect, and I carry plenty of shame and guilt. I don’t want to adopt a victim mentality, and I know I’ve hurt others, which I’m not proud of. Personally, being hurt leaves wounds that are hard to heal, but I also don’t want those wounds to stay open and cause bitterness. That would only increase the chaos in my life. Jaafar’s quote caught my attention because it reminded me that I don’t need to focus on those issues first. My main priority should be the foundation—my relationship with God.

Start Putting in Effort Today No Matter the Past

Starting today, I am putting effort into my relationship with God, regardless of my past. The same applies to you, the reader. Our past can be heavy and filled with turmoil, shame, and guilt, but it can’t be erased. We can either dwell on it with regret and negative feelings or use it as a stepping stone for a new beginning. God’s word calls on everything that has breath to praise Him. Not just the good, the faithful, or those with spotless pasts. No. Everything that has breath praise the Lord, says Psalm 150:6.

Follow Revival in Christ on Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow me on my personal Instagram and X profile accounts. Please consider signing up to the website using the link below! God bless you always.