DEC 1 - Going Backwards (Going Somewhere)

There are times as believers that we have every motivation to push forward. We wake up in the morning, intending to do the best we can, we want to improve not just as believers, but as people.

But we don’t.

We fall apart, life happens, or like a faded bumper sticker on an old Tacoma said: “s*** happens.” We don’t pass the tests, we re-enter a relationship that’s hurting us, we fall into sin a bunch of times in a day.

We tell ourselves that tomorrow will be better, and it’s true, there will be grace for tomorrow. But we need it today.

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.

Joel 2:12-13 NKJV

Believe it or not, you’re not alone.

Going backwards is an indicator that something is wrong spiritually, emotionally, maybe even physically. If you feel stuck, glued to the floor, God is urging you to return to him. He says,

13 Rend (surrender) your heart
    and not your garments.

Which means surrender your heart, not your clothes. Why does he mention clothes? Because we change our clothes every day, but we have the same heart our whole life. He’s pointing out that if we go back to him with just our exterior, we’re going to change him by tomorrow morning.

But if you surrender to him, deeply. He won’t be upset, he’ll make himself available.

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:7 NKJV