Finding God Amidst The Debris

04-May-2022
Peter W. Guess

love for god, repentance

Delight in God
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalms 37:4 (NLT)

The year was 2011. I had walked into a crossfire situation with a family member and faced rage I had never experienced before (nor since). I was blamed totally unfairly for my actions and instantly dismissed from the family business.

It was extremely traumatic - the vivid images live with me to this day.

I was chased off the property, which was also my abode. I had to find a place to stay and urgently find work.

There is something about a crisis that can open you to a God-meetup.

I was far from God at the time. But in the bed and breakfast, I moved into, I was attracted to the Bible lying on the bedside table. I opened it and it fell on Revelations 3:4-5. The message struck deep, as Jesus spoke to the church at Ephesus. Instead of finding comfort, I faced confrontation! I had lost my first love for Christ.

4) But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning.
5) Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent. Revelation 2:4,5 (TPT)

That began a process, but I was still so blinded by the enemy and had fallen into sin repeatedly. The real repentance and transformation took years and only in mid-2019 did I again fall in love with the Master Jesus.

Here is another translation indicating what God really desires from us. Not subservience but love and passion.

"Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and he will give you what you desire the most. Psalms 37:4 TPT

In closing, that old song I sang in the 70s, comes to mind.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."