I’m feeling compelled to share this with you guys. This past week, I’ve been kind of going through a dry time spiritually, as in not really putting God first in my life. I’ve had a lot of things going on that have been really pressing in my life, and I’ve just really put God on the back burner. The bad thing was that I wasn’t even realizing what was wrong. I mean, life recently had been pretty sullen for me, but I didn’t stop to think about why. Fortunately, pretty soon after this whole thing started, one of my very closest friends brought it to my attention that she could tell something was wrong. I instantly realized what was wrong. God was not first in my life anymore!

What a horrible feeling when I finally figured it out. I felt so guilty, and I had a good reason to be. God was just sitting there saying, “Hey, did you forget about me?” Immediately, I made an effort to make things right. Even with the pressing deadline of a midterm the next morning that I felt I was really not prepared for, I was encouraged to ask God for forgiveness and to get back in the Word before I even went back to studying.

Here’s the amazing thing though. I just flipped my Bible open, not really knowing where it would land, and get this: it lands on Psalm 51. Take a minute to read some of the verses from that chapter below:

1-13: “Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.”

17: “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Now isn’t that kind of freaky that I would happen to turn right to that chapter? Coincidence? I don’t think so. We have an omniscient God who cares deeply for us, and I know that He was waiting for me to open up to that chapter tonight. I wonder how long He has been waiting for me to do that.

I am so thankful that our God is a forgiving God, full of compassion. I cannot tell you the lack of joy that I had in my life when I was out of the Word. And it is good to know that when I stay in the Word, it is evident in how I live my life. It is impossible to stress enough how important it is to stay in the Word, being in constant communication with God. Seriously, if you don’t have time to read a whole chapter (even though there’s really no excuse not to), at least read a verse or two and really think about their meaning. That is really the only way to start your day out the right way. If you’re really living a life that desires to honor God, people can truly see a difference. I’m so thankful for my close friends that encourage me in my walk with God, and have brought me back to the place I used to be spiritually, and the place I should always remain.

So how are you doing? Have you been giving God the time He deserves? Believe me. If you haven’t been, now is the best time to start. I found that out. He is waiting and longing for you to come to Him. Are you still making Him wait?