First in My Life

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 

that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—
what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us;
and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.        1 John 1:1-4 (HCSB)

What or Who is #1 in your life? As a Believer and Disciple of Jesus Christ (I am committed to Him, not part of a denomination of that name) God is #1 in my life. My husband is not first. My children and grandchildren are not first. My career or how I identify myself is not first. God is #1 in my life.

If God is first in my life, then when I think about Him and spend time with Him I AM EXCITED! If spending time with God doesn’t excite me – then I need to think about my relationship with Him. Loving passionately brings excitement and expectation into the relationship, doesn’t it? I want to spend time with Him. Is there something that was taught or said to me that made me think that those emotions are not “appropriate” in my relationship with Jesus? Think about what He has done for me! How much He loves me!

I have had some very dark nights. One of them was the night my son died. The house was quiet. I laid down and looked across the room at the empty hospital bed. My son was gone and he wasn’t ever – ever coming back to this world. The pain was so intense and heavy. And then I felt a hand stroking my head. At first I heard no words, just the comfort of that touch. I felt surrounded and safe. I drifted into sleep and it was there that I heard Jesus speak to me as I dreamed. I saw myself moving on in my life. There would always be a hole. I would learn to live in a “new normal”. And I received the assurance that I would one day see James again. Until then, he was safe and well with Jesus. Until then, I was safe and well with Jesus.

From the beginning of my life with Jesus, I have seen things with my eyes, heard things with my ears and known things with my spirit. It is to these that I know and to all that He is going to continue to teach me, that I testify. It is worth some excitement!

What is my thinking when I am traveling to worship on the Sabbath? Am I excited and looking forward to worshiping? Or am I just attending because it is expected? Am I willing to discuss my attitude with Jesus? Do I have “complete fellowship” with the Father and Jesus? Is my “joy complete”? Ask Jesus to do a Holy Spirit ‘scan’. Sit and listen. Spending time with Jesus is not only time well spent but time that is multiplied in what I learn and how I grow in my relationship with Him.

John goes on to say that in God there is light. There is no darkness. Life can seem foggy and confusing. God brings light into my life and leads me in His good way, not in sin. I have the promise that when I spend time with Him I will always find a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and into life of fellowship with Him.

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.
Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.    Psalm 145:1-5 (NLT)

I am going to take time to meditate on #1 in my life – my LORD.