Loyalty.
Malachi 2:15b; 16b
So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
“So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”
Even though this verse talks about divorce, this applies to many things that we "love in our youth" such as our first love to our Savior. The heart is the one thing that is hard to understand - it could be deceitful, could condemn us, could make us feel right, etc. We ought to always guard it that it does not "love" other things beyond our love for God. Our call as believers is to remain loyal to "the wife of our youth". It may seem awkward to say that God is our wife, however, if we think about in the context of our first love; how a husband/wife loved their spouses at first, then remaining loyal to Him would make sense. We experienced how it's like to love God first; always on fire, wanting to just read the Word all day, pray all day, fellowship with believers all day, serve God all day, etc. It's an awesome feeling. And yes, God wants that always fresh and refreshed in our lives everyday. Let's be loyal - go back to your first love. What was it like to love God first? What did we do? What can be better to enhance and grow our love for Him? Do it.
I will be consistent in talking to God at every moment. For a while, I have "stagnated" in my prayer. It became a routine. Recently, I've again started a constant communication with God and it's awesome. I could tell him when I am feeling weird, sad and especially the times when I am so happy. Sometimes I forget to "share" to God the times when it's going so well. Talking to God keeps my relationship with Him fresh. Even though He already knows what I'm going through, me talking to Him about it makes me feel happy that I have someone I can call to listen. I will remain loyal to God - putting aside (or 2nd) anything that's trying to take over God's place in my heart.
Lord, thank you for always listening to my stories. Please help me to distinguish which things or people that/who are trying to take you down a 2nd place in my heart. You will always be the first. I pray that you always remind me because sometimes I get so caught up with all the stuff I have to do that it sometimes "takes over". Please shape me to become like your Son Jesus who always loved you and have put you first in everything. I want to be loyal to You; to be faithful to You. Please guide me and help me. Thank you Jesus! In Your name and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
