Return to Love

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalms 51:12).

Sometimes, if we take a pause from our busy schedule and we are still and listen intently. If we search our hearts and our minds we find that something is missing. Missing is an intended pureness that is now tainted. Our hearts and minds struggle with doubts, with fears, and with an emptiness that echoes off the walls of our hearts. Our hearts know there’s something better, something purer, something that fills the void and that calms the heart with peace and intrinsic joy.

Somewhere in our past, somewhere in the days, months, or years past we heard some very Good News. The news was so good, the promise of freedom so grand, and the promises so extraordinary that we squinted and backed away from its glory. We backed away; turned and walked away confused and in disbelief.

We filled our lives with all that was available to us. We did that which felt right, felt good, and brought pleasure. We lived life to the fullest but we still… deep down inside felt empty… and utterly alone, so very alone.

But we kept up appearances for appearance sake and after a while we lost ourselves in our own deception. The crowd we associated with were much like us and when those relationships were stressed, we hurt each other with words and actions. Over time the relational scars and guilt criss-crossed the surface of our heart making it cold, callused and hard.

Then unexpectedly the brilliance of that Good News shines upon us once again. Our knees our weak as we want to turn and run but something burns within us… something deep within our heart calls for, longs for, the saving love of Jesus Christ. We think… ’could this be true?’ ‘Could this be what my heart so desires?’ So, with hope, with faith we call on Jesus and ask for his forgiveness and turn our heart over to him.

We find that our hearts melt in the presence of his love. Our hearts glow in peace and in joy that we’ve never tasted. We worship for its right, we worship for it’s true, we worship from a heart bursting-full and free.

Is your heart free? Can you remember your first love? (Rev. 2:4) Can you remember the peace, the joy, the unrehearsed worship, and the unburdened heart? Remember that first love, savor those moments, cherish your first taste of joy. Turn from the practices of do’s and don’ts religiosity and return to him... return to love. The love of Christ.