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The things in life can become overwhelming. For many of us, I am sure the saying, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” could be our bumper sticker. If it’s not bills, it’s relationships. If it’s not relationships, it’s self-doubt. If it’s not self-doubt, it’s laziness. If it’s not laziness, it’s anxiousness.
The list of things that can become overwhelming is endless. For believers, we go to God with our worries and if it’s not fixed by a certain deadline, we get frustrated with God or we just give up praying about our concerns.
Last year, September 18, 2023, I woke up to many unpaid bills, including a late fee for my rent. If that wasn’t enough, I went outside and my car wouldn’t start. It was at that moment I just cried. I sat and cried. I canceled all of my meetings the next day. The only thing I committed to that week was discipleship class on Wednesday night. But something changed for me by Friday morning. God showed me what I was doing wrong– what many of us do wrong:
We leave God out of most of our decisions, lifestyles, thoughts, and choices, and we only go to God when we feel like it or when we have a problem.
Nothing is wrong with bringing our issues to God. God calls us to cast our cares (anxieties, worries, concerns) on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We go wrong when we give God 10% of our life when he wants 100%.
God doesn’t just want to pay your bills, He wants to manage your spending habits. God doesn’t just want to heal you of that breakup, He wants you to trust Him in your season of singleness and dating. God doesn’t just want you to get the job, He wants you to operate fully in your purpose. God doesn’t just want to mend the relationship, He wants to give you discernment when choosing people to be close to. God doesn’t just want you to stop drinking/smoking, He wants to be your peace and stress reliever.
God wants to be included in our lifestyle. God wants to be included in our choices. God wants us to pray first and then make plans. Not make plans first and then pray.
The good news is that Hosea 14:4 says, “I will heal their backsliding.”
“The word is certain: I will heal their backsliding. Not “I might heal” or “I could heal” or “I can try to heal,” but I will heal their backsliding. Come to God for healing of your backsliding, and He will do it! God is too great a physician to allow any patient to leave His office without being healed” (David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible).
It’s not for me to tell you in which areas you’re backsliding. It’s up to you to be honest with God in the areas of your life that you’ve fallen short. God can’t do anything with a lie and truth be told, He already knows where you lack. He wants you to be honest with Him about it.
I had to get honest with God about the choices I had been making and I had to say “enough is enough.” Aren’t you tired of just getting by? Aren’t you tired of making the same bad choices? Aren’t you tired of feeling empty? To change, you have to get fed up with YOU!
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
After the bad week I experienced, I chose to read and study my bible daily (every day and night). I mostly listened to gospel music throughout my day. All of the things I knew God was saying “no” to, I stopped doing. I stopped smoking, drinking, having sex, cursing, going out on weekends, smoking hookah, and entertaining stupid conversations.
The next month God put it on my heart to apply for Houston Christian University (I’ll share more about his testimony soon). Spring 2024 I started classes as a Biblical Studies Major. I am more focused on what God has called me to do in this season than I have ever been. The first step was surrendering my will, desires, and lifestyle to Him.
Today, my question to you is: How bad do you want it? “It” is a life full of joy, peace, laughter, prosperity, patience, self-control, love, kindness, and generosity. It’s yours if you want it. If you answered, “I want it.” Then today, commit to the following:
Pray. Right now. In this moment, humble yourself and tell God the area in which you’ve been outside of His will. Thank God in advance for healing you of your backsliding.
Stop doing the things that separate you from God (sin).
Read Hosea 1 and use this study guide to understand what it is saying. Take notes. Apply them to your life. Every week, choose a new study guide.
Before you pick up your phone daily, pray to God first. Before you go to bed each night pray to God.
Get connected with a bible teaching church. You cannot do this alone. You will need to stay in a community.
Click here if you’ve chosen to do things God's way so that we can pray for you.