In what ways can we rekindle our "devotion of your youth"? The Devotion God Recalls “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: ‘This is what the LORD says: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride—how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.’” God is not speaking in wistful nostalgia; He is calling His people to recover something precious that has been lost. The same call reaches us today. Diagnose the Drift • Recognize forgotten intimacy – Revelation 2:4, “You have forsaken your first love.” • Identify competing affections – Hosea 2:13, “She decked herself with her rings and jewelry, but forgot Me.” • Own personal responsibility – Lamentations 3:40, “Let us examine and test our ways, and return to the LORD.” Remember What Early Devotion Looked Like • Wholehearted pursuit (Psalm 63:1) • Prompt obedience without negotiation (Exodus 24:7) • Joy in simple dependence (Deuteronomy 8:2–3) • Eager testimony about God’s goodness (Psalm 40:10) Four Steps to Rekindling 1. Remember • Rehearse specific moments of early passion: first answered prayer, first act of bold witness. • Journal concrete memories; gratitude fans the flame (Psalm 77:11–12). 2. Repent • Confess coldness as sin, not personality shift (Psalm 51:10–12). • Turn from whatever numbed affection—habit, relationship, schedule. 3. Return • Re-engage forgotten practices: unhurried Scripture reading, corporate worship, private praise. • “Do the deeds you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). • Prioritize presence over productivity—sit at His feet like Mary (Luke 10:39). 4. Renew • Offer yourself again—body, mind, calendar—“a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). • Stoke the gift within you (2 Timothy 1:6) by regular fellowship, service, and testimony. • Set fresh goals: new ministry involvement, Scripture memorization plan, intentional mentoring. Guard the Flame Going Forward • Daily awe: read a portion of Scripture solely to worship, not to prepare or perform. • Accountable friendships: “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). • Sabbath rhythms: create weekly space to delight in God’s works (Genesis 2:3). • Ongoing surrender: keep nothing “off limits” (Colossians 2:6). The Promise of Fresh Joy “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). When we remember, repent, return, and renew, God is faithful to ignite love that is not a mere echo of youth but a mature, enduring blaze—strong enough to light the way for others (Philippians 3:13–14). |
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