Recently, I met with a man whose marriage is tottering towards collapse. He feels alone and unwanted in his own household. His wife seems more devoted to his children than to him. He seemingly cannot do enough to please her and he is ready to give up. When I asked Him how his relationship with God was doing, he shared that it is anemic. He grew up without a loving father which has effected how he views, relates to and trusts his Heavenly Father. Therein lays the core issue.
Meditation
Jeremiah 32:39, 40—I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never turn away from Me.
We cannot summon the enduring motivation to overcome our problems if we do not have a right relationship with the One from Whom pure motivation comes. If our walk with God is flawed, we should not be surprised if we struggle in marriage, work, finances, self-esteem, or our relationship with others. To focus on problem-solving without restoring communion with God is like throwing coins into the air hoping they will somehow fall into the parking meter and buy us more time.
Because I work at keeping my relationship with God strong He gives me unceasing motivation. Without a strong walk with Him, I wouldn’t have a chance—life’s struggles would tear me up. Without Him I would naturally rely upon myself and that would be a sure formula for frustration and ineptitude.
God promised the Israelites that He would give them singleness of heart and action so that they would always revere Him. Jesus prayed for those who would believe in Him, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John
Inspiration
