Always Moving

“All our decisions either move us closer to God or further away from God. All it takes is one decision to move back to God.” Doug Baker

Lately I’ve felt very out of balance. Yell at the kids too much.  Don’t clean the house enough. Not enough time with my husband. Wasting too much time at the computer thinking I’m working hard.  Little sleep. Too much caffeine. Nonexistent exercise.

When I first heard the above quote, my slowing changing perfectionistic-self tried to pile on even more guilt. The choices I was making above were definitely not moving me in the direction I wanted to go.  Instead of feeling God’s peace, I was feeling stress.  Instead of experiencing God’s joy, I was feeling anger or hurried.  Instead of resting in obedience one step at a time, I felt like I was letting down not just God but also my family.

However, the last part of the quote, and the way I believe Mr. Baker meant it, offers hope and encouragement to everyone, no matter what choices have been made. Encouragement to the one who has been steadfastly making the right choices in all areas of your life – a way to say, “Well done, keep going, you’re doing great.”

And, hope to those who have let life get the best of them and made less-than-stellar choices lately in whatever area of their life that needs help.  Because the above quote tells me this. I’m only one decision away from turning back to God and doing it His way.

When I mess up (big or little mistakes – it doesn’t matter), God always invites me back one decision at a time.   He doesn’t want me back already fixed.  He wants to do the fixing for me.  And, I’m living proof that when I’ve allowed God do the fixing, my problems get taken care of much better than any fixing I could’ve done on my own.

I’m getting better at remembering this lesson.  I used to wait a long time, trying to fix myself so I was worthy to stand before God and say, “I’ve messed up.”  Now, I’m much quicker to go to Him and say, “God, I’ve made another mess.  Please fix it for me,” and then wait patiently for Him to show me what steps He wants me to take.

I’m so glad I have a relationship with a Father who is so personal.  He not only knows I’m going to mess and how, but He’s waiting for me to say, “help” so He can come in and rescue me.  All I have to do is keep moving…one decision at a time, back to His loving arms.

And as I love saying, what He’s willing to do for me, He’s waiting with open arms to do for you too.  I’m not special…I’m just His daughter.  It’s your choice.  You’re always moving in one direction or another…He’s waiting to call you son or daughter too, but He won’t force Himself on you.  You have to decide.

© Cheri Swalwell 2014