Sometimes I Forget to Think About the Lord - And it Stops Now

Tonight as I sat on my bed, beginning my nightly prayer and Psalm reading, I just started talking to Jesus. I confessed that the past few days I haven't been praying as much as I would like to, and asked Him if there was anything in my heart that I hadn't surrendered. I didn't really feel Him put anything specific on my heart after being quiet for a little bit, so I went ahead, opened my Bible, and read the Psalm I was on for the day. This post, like many, is me processing with the Lord what He's teaching me, and it's my prayer that you're able to learn right alongside me.

I read Psalm 73, and in verses 23-26, it says this:

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

We are always near the Lord. We are always with Him, whether we feel like it or not, because He is everywhere and in everything. And as born again believers, we have the Holy Spirit literally living inside of us, dwelling in us, making us His home. He holds us and gently grabs our right hand, guiding us. God is the only one who will ever satisfy us.

And even when our flesh and our heart fails, God is still our sustenance. He is still all we need. He is still our strength. We will fail, but God will never stop being enough. He will never stop holding. our right hand, and He will never stop being near us.

What a reason to praise!

Verse 28 continues:

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."

My friends, it is GOOD to be near God. It is right to be near God - we were created for it! Being near our Father is refreshing, safe, and freeing. It's everything we need and more, and it's the greatest privilege and honor that we could be given, to be able to dwell with the Lord Almighty. Scripture says that God is our refuge and hiding place, that He is loving and gentle, a place of rest, hope, and redemption. He is good.

But - we have to make the decision. We have to choose to be near God. The psalmist said that he "made" the Lord his refuge, indicating action and determination. While the Lord is always near us, we aren't always abiding in Him or walking in the Spirit. We aren't as easily dwelling in the safety of His love because there's so many other things the world is inviting us to dwell in and fix our eyes on. It's a conscious choice to choose the Lord above all of that.

As I was reading this Psalm and thinking about how sometimes I forget to pray, get distracted during the day, and don't think about the Lord enough within my day to day tasks, God reminded me that sometimes I have to make myself remember and focus on what's really important. I need to make it impossible for me to lose sight of my Abba and set up boundaries and tools that help me fix my eyes on Him constantly, Because I need Him. It is good to be with the Lord, and it is also necessary to be with the Lord. I can't do this life alone, and I am absolutely dependent on Him for strength, refreshment, encouragement, discernment, and so, so much more. He is where my joy and my peace is, and without being filled by Him throughout the day, I return to prayer at the end of the night depleted and worn down. I must make the Sovereign Lord my refuge, because it won't just magically happen. My schedule, the world, and the enemy's tactics won't allow it.

So what?

I will continue bringing my Bible with me, everywhere I go. Even sitting in the living room at home, my Bible needs to be with me as a visible and tangible reminder to turn to Him. In free moments throughout my day, I won't scroll, I'll turn to Scripture. As I eat breakfast, I won't stare into space, I'll praise the Lord for my meal and give Him my day.

I will set up reminders on my phone and sticky notes, encouraging me to be thankful and to pray. I will not allow myself to forget, and busyness will not be an excuse.

And I'll practice. There is a reason God said so many times throughout the Old Testament to remember - because we're bad at it! We're bad at remembering what He's done and we're bad at remembering to put Him first in the midst of the chaos we call life. I won't be perfect (and the Lord knows that, and He's so, so gracious), but I will practice. I'll repent, turn to Him for wisdom and correction, and keep going. He's too important to give up.

I will not leave my faith, my prayer, or my relationship with God at the door when I finish my Bible study. I will carry it with me throughout my day, lean on Him constantly, and practice being persistent in prayer, because it is good to be with the Lord, and I need Him. I will not settle for a mediocre, good on paper kind of Christianity, because God has called me (and you) and invited us into something so much better than that. So much deeper. But it requires a lifestyle change, one where every detail is filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Scripture and consumed with worship of the Almighty God.

Daunting? Yes. Scary? Yes. Thrilling? Even bigger yes.

I want nothing more than to dwell in the house of the Lord for all my days, and I don't have to wait until heaven to start. I want to start right now, and by His grace and with a lot of repentance, I'm excited to abide in Him in every day, every hour, every moment.

It is good to be near the Lord, my friends.