Getting a Do-Over - I Would Look for God (Part Trois)

Getting a Do-Over - I Would Look for God (Part Trois)

God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them. —James H. Aughey

I THINK ABOUT my girlfriend Marcie and how differently we were raised. While she had little guidance regarding spiritual matters, I experienced just the opposite.

I joined my Sunday school class when I was six weeks old and stayed with the same classmates until I left home at the age of sixteen. Throughout my childhood, my faith was the focus of my week: Sunday school and church; Sunday evening choir practice (and church again); Wednesday evening Sunbeams and Girls Auxiliary (and church again—in case your cup wasn’t running over from the services three days before). There was also vacation Bible school, church camp, and choir tours. I was constantly and consistently fed a spiritual diet as I moved forward in my spiritual maturation and understanding.

My faith journey wouldn’t begin to stall until I got older and found more sinful things that I enjoyed. I knew I was constantly conflicted, keeping one eye on God and one eye on the world, and not making strides with either. Disgusted that I couldn’t do better, I finally realized that living the Christian life is something like dancing the Texas two-step—in this case, two steps forward, one step back.

Eventually you get around the dance floor, but it might take you the entire length of a country-and-western song, depending on the tempo! And I think our spiritual maturation is also like this during different stages of our lives. We desire to do the right thing, but we also allow circumstances to take us off course. The good news: God is the DJ and will change that next song to a waltz.

Forward one, two, three . . . one, two, three . . .

Even there your hand will guide me,and your strength will support me. (Psalm 139:10)

Are you two-stepping or just out of step? Ask God to change the song—but this time, let him lead.