Is Life Damage Control or Prevention?
My last article compared the need for good, solid conversation in a marriage to our relationship with Jesus Christ. A good marriage is based on communication between husband and wife, although not necessarily by words. The very word “relationship” has the root word “relate”, which requires communication of some sort. The four words my wife learned early on in our marriage were, “we need to talk”, which is a constant passion in the heart of Jesus Christ.
We see several passages in the Old and New Testament about praying, which is defined as talking with God. One of the best to illustrate the Lord’s passion for us to talk with Him is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
When we understand the first ministry Jesus gives to each of us is to be reconciled with God and to see others reconciled to God, we begin to see His hunger and passion for us to be involved in a relationship with Him. We were created to be in a relationship with God and to relate with Him. There is a place in us created for Him. When we fail to recognize this yearning or hunger within us and try to fill this gaping hole with other things, we end up corrupting our lives and wind up feeling even more empty.
A question was posed after my last article: “What to do AFTER you forget to use those four words”? That is, what do we do after we forget “we need to talk”? This is a great question for all of us. Generally, I find the only time these words are necessary is when we have forgotten them over a period of time, whether we are referring to our human relationships or our relationship with Jesus.
Recently, my wife and I went almost three or four months without a real solid conversation where we are sharing our heart with one another. We had this opportunity a couple of weeks ago and it occurred to us, “Hey! It’s been awhile since we had one of these!” We immediately recognized our mistake and prepared ourselves to be more diligent and purposeful in having some “our time” together.
I believe this happens in our relationship with God. We are constantly challenged with distractions and life. This may not be the case with everyone, but for me, unless I am diligent and purposeful in my relationship with God, I will begin to drift a bit…
then a bit more…
then a bit more…
until eventually it hits me, and usually right between the eyes!
With both God and my beautiful wife, is life damage control or prevention? I would like to believe I am diligent and purposeful in both relationships to say my conversations with both are in the mode of prevention rather than damage control, but I know the real truth in my fallen and imperfect nature.
Fortunately, my wife loves me and is forgiving. She sees me for who I really am, faults and all, and still loves me and accepts me.
Fortunately, my Lord loves me and is forgiving. He sees me for who I really am, faults and all, and still loves me and accepts me.
How diligent and purposeful are you in your relationships?
Are you tough enough for a relationship with God?
Glenn Sasscer
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