What are you struggling with? Deployment? Children? Marriage? Your relationship with God? The list can be rather endless at times. When life is rough, I find that I tend to run to the prayer closet. Getting down on my knees becomes a survival strategy.
But, there are moments in life when everything is wonderful. Newly married and fairly carefree, I have nothing to complain about right now.
. . . and I’ve forgotten about God.
It seems in all the wonderfulness of life, I’ve begun neglecting the One who really made it wonderful.
That is not my only problem. See, I also can’t seem to keep plants alive. Something about living in close proximity to me causes them to turn all brown and ugly,
and wilt
and look very dejected.
I have almost always managed to kill (not on purpose, I promise) flowers that have had the ill luck of falling into my hands.
My family wanted to treat me special for my birthday this past weekend. They gave me a beautiful little tropical plant. It’s gorgeous, and I desperately want to keep it alive . . . despite the odds. I’ve already apologized (very sincerely too, I might add) for it being unlucky enough to end up with me.
“sniffle” Sorry, I got choked up thinking about this poor, solitary plant’s chance at survival with me. Gets to me every time.
So, I started off my relationship with this plant trying to figure out what I could do this time to give it a better chance at life.
And . . . after much pondering, I think I’ve landed on it.
You see, plants need attention (water, sunlight, etc.). They don’t cry like babies, and they don’t whine like dogs. They don’t even wrap themselves around our feet and trip us like cats. There’s really nothing that they use to demand our attention.
God is like that. He doesn’t cry or whine at us. (Sometimes He’ll trip us to catch our attention, but that’s a story for another day.) He’s a gentleman. He waits for us to come to Him and to seek Him out. And in many cases, he suffers neglect, like my plant.
I find myself, more often than not, walking by my plant and thinking, “Oh, it should be watered. I’ll get to it later.” And, sadly, I’ll do the same thing with my relationship with God. “Oh, I should spend some time with God. I’ll get to it later.”
“tears” Now, I really am crying. How can I do that to my Savior?! How can I do that to myself?
We need that relationship with God far more than anything we’ve needed before. If we spend our life “waiting till later” what will we have? Nothing. Even worse, during those times of struggle (deployments, family struggles, etc.) our relationship with God will be as dry and wilted as all those plants that died on me. Where will that leave us? Where will that leave you?
Well, I’m not willing to settle for a wilted, dead relationship with God.
As I renew my walk with God, my little plant is going to become more than just another plant that perishes in record time. As I try to keep my tropical miracle alive, I’m going to use it as a reminder for me not to neglect my relationship with God.
Would you join me? If you’re in a slow time in your relationship with God, then renew and rededicate with me right now. Just take a minute and tell God you want more. Begin there and allow yourself and God freedom to truly build a relationship together. You don’t have to be perfect now, just start afresh. He’s dying to be a part of your life again. Then leave a comment here letting us all know!
If you’re going strong in your Christian walk, share with me ways that you keep your relationship with God alive and vibrant. I’m all ears!
Perhaps even grab your own personal prayer plant reminder. Get something simple, small and pretty, like mine.
Priscilla is an avid blogger, writer, and Christian military wife. Her passion for life, marriage and God are displayed at her blog, www.pinkcombatboots.wordpress.com, where she chronicles her personal story, as well as shares helpful suggestions, newsy bits, and more!
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