LORD GOD, TAKE MY COMFORT, ...

 COMFORT IS UNIVERSAL.

WE ALL LOVE COMFORT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS EVERY HUMAN INSTINCTIVELY LONGS FOR.

WHETHER YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, RELIGIONIST, AN ATHEIST, AN AGNOSTIC, FREE-THINKER, A PREACHER, A PARENT, A STUDENT, A JANITOR, OR A CEO, IT DOES NOT MATTER.

COMFORT IS UNIVERSAL ♾️.

WE CRAVE THE SOFT PLACES, THE PREDICTABLE, THE SECURE. 

WE LIKE KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

WE LIKE ROUTINES THAT DON'T CHALLENGE US TOO MUCH.

WE LIKE FEELINGS THAT DON'T HURT, WE LIKE PEOPLE THAT DON'T CONFRONT, AND PATHS THAT DON'T STRETCH US. 

AND IN MANY WAYS, COMFORT IS A GIFT. 🧧 🎁 

GOD HIMSELF CREATED REST.

GOD CREATED SABBATH: WORK SIX DAYS AND REST ON SEVENTH DAY.

GOD INVITES US INTO HIS PEACE.

BUT HERE IS THE THING.

WHEN COMFORT BECOMES OUR GOAL INSTEAD OF OUR GIFT, WE BEGIN TO DRIFT. 

WE STOP GROWING.

WE LOSE THE HUNGER THAT ONCE STIRRED OUR HEARTS TO RISE, TO SEEK, TO STRETCH.

THE FIRE THAT ONCE MADE US BOLD, BECOMES A FLICKER STRUGGLING TO STAY LIT. 

WHAT BEGINS AS REST CAN BECOME RESISTANCE TO GROWTH.

WHAT STARTS AS PEACE CAN BECOME PASSIVITY. 

AND WHAT ONCE WAS BALANCE CAN TURN INTO SPIRITUAL STAGNATION. 

YOU DO NOT EVEN NOTICE IT AT FIRST.

BUT OVER TIME, THE FIRE INSIDE YOU STARTS TO DIM.

THE URGENCY TO GROW BEGINS TO FADE. 

IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE, THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE LOSS OF AMBITION.

YOUR GOALS BECOME BLURRY.

YOU SETTLE FOR LESS.

YOU STOP SHOWING UP WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART.

OR MAYBE YOU GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS, KEEPING THE ROUTINE ALIVE. 

BUT THE SPARK IS LONG GONE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE, THE COST IS FAR GREATER.

BECAUSE WHEN YOUR SOUL GETS TOO COMFORTABLE, IT DOESN'T JUST BECOME QUIET.

YOUR SOUL BECOMES LUKEWARM.

AND THAT IS WHAT JESUS WARNS US ABOUT IN REVELATION 3, VERSE 16.

"SO BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM, NEITHER HOT NOR COLD, I WILL SPIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH." 

THOSE ARE HARSH WORDS.

NOT BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T LOVE US, BUT BECAUSE HE DOES. 

GOD KNOWS HOW DANGEROUS APATHY IS TO THE HUMAN HEART. 

LUKEWARM FAITH LOOKS POLITE ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IS EMPTY ON THE INSIDE. 

IT PRAYS WITHOUT PASSION.

IT WORSHIPS GOD WITHOUT WONDER.

IT GIVES WITHOUT JOY.

IT SERVES WITHOUT LOVE.

IT CLAPS DURING CHURCH SERVICE, BUT IT KEEPS SIN CLOSE IN SECRET.

THAT IS WHY WE MUST CHOOSE DAILY INTENTIONALLY TO STIR THE FIRE 🔥 WITHIN. TO LIVE WITH PASSION FOR THE LORD.

TO WAKE UP AND SAY, " LORD JESUS,

TODAY I WANT TO BURN FOR YOU, TO LIVE NOT FOR CONVENIENCE, BUT FOR CONVICTION.