My heart has been far from God lately. Busyness, distractions, and the everyday mundane have tugged at my heart and pulled me away from the One I need more than anything.
He has so kindly drawn me back to Him. Last week He used a simple reminder from Joshua 24: “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.” (Joshua 24:14a ESV)
He knew what my heart needed that morning. I felt convicted and loved all in the same moment. He was asking me who I have been serving. Am I faithful to Him? No, I have not been. The busyness, distractions and the mundane things become the idols I end up serving. I am torn down and broken, feeling the conviction weighing heavy upon me, then ever so quickly He lifts me up and shows me in His word where my focus needs to be:
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24:15b ESV
I look up to see the large sign on the wall in our sweet, little home and this is the verse I see. God is reminding me once again that our family must choose Him. We have chosen Him. Thank you for drawing me back. He leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one (Matthew 18:12). I was the one slowly fading and straying away from my Shepherd. He sought me out and drew me back to His heart.
And then in a dream last night, I was seeking after things that I thought would fill the emptiness. I felt a deep desire to be needed and loved. I kept looking in the wrong places. When I thought I had finally found the right thing, God showed up! In my dream! He revealed Himself to me in a beautiful sunset over the ocean and stars shooting across the dark, night sky. In that moment I was reminded that only Jesus can fill the emptiness. Only He can fill that longing in my heart to be needed and loved. Jesus is all I need.
It’s amazing to me that even in our busy, distracted, and often chaotic days, God will orchestrate ways to draw us back to Him. In his Word, God says, “I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me.” (Romans 10:20 HCBS)
There are endless ways for Him to draw you back. Don’t ignore the gentle nudges of His love. He wants you back and He will do whatever it takes to captivate your heart for the first time and for the hundredth time! Rest in His love today. Look for Him in all that surrounds you. He is pursuing your heart today. Let that sink in. The God of the universe, all powerful and mighty God, is pursuing YOUR heart today!
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!”
-Psalm 139:16-17 NIV
In Him,
Katie Karlson
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