I was not even sure where to start writing this evening, but Jesus knew. What I did know to write about is that the walk of a Christian can be a long and winding road sometimes. It is not an easy life and yet I can still say that my life has been a blessed one. Regardless of what I have gone through, I know that there are many more people in this world who have struggled with much weightier things than I have. So, with that said, I choose to be thankful. I have by no means arrived, heck, I don’t even know if I can say that I have even gotten started on the journey yet.

I know what you must be thinking. Dang, Renetta, what do you mean you don’t know if you have even gotten started on this journey yet? You’re how old?

Wait, how did age become a part of this conversation!!! With all kidding aside though, I am relatively young when it comes to the Christian faith. Though I will be 55 this year, I didn’t get started in my walk until I turned 26. One thing I will say though, I can still remember how my heart was changed in an instant. I can remember how the grass seemed greener, the sky looked bluer, and I had never felt so alive. It was like someone had put a new pair of glasses on me and everything had come into focus in an instant. Better than that, I finally knew what the song Amazing Grace was saying in the line, I once was blind but now I see.

If you asked me now, do I feel the same way as I did back then I would have to say, definitely yes and no. Lol, I know, not the answer you were expecting but, really it is the most accurate answer I can give you.

 You see, your walk with God is like a marriage. When you first started dating you had butterflies in your stomach, and everything was exciting and new. You knew that you just wanted to know more about Him and you just wanted to spend time together. However, over time, as you do these things you become closer and become more comfortable with each other. Heck, you even begin to let down your guard or also putting your best foot forward. As you become more familiar, you tend to grow more complacent. This is where it can get a little dangerous though because you can become a little too complacent in your walk and you just always assume that the other one will be there so you don’t put forth as much effort.

You and I know that a relationship can’t withstand that forever, that is why you have to talk to one another daily and tell each other what you are going through. Don’t always be the only one speaking though, it is important to listen as well. I know what you’re thinking, wait, I thought we were talking about God and you’re correct. I was and I still am. You see, just like a good marriage grows stronger and more lasting as you put in the time and effort, so does your relationship with God. It is not always easy and like someone said tonight in church, sometimes you just have to put forth the effort on credit, even when you don’t feel like it. The more that you put into the relationship though, the more you will get out of it. Another thing to think about, God already put forth all of the effort before you even turned to Him. That is why He sent Jesus so that He would pay the price for the sin we committed and for all the times that we missed the mark. He loved us so much and He loves us still, even though He knows us more than we could even know ourselves. Yes, and He loves us still!!!