Those words pretty much summed it up….
I can’t remember the exact date, or even the year, but I do remember the feeling.
I was in my early 30s, which was a couple decades ago, and had made the decision to attend church one night after a long drought of attendance.
It wasn’t that I was living bad, I was living quiet well actually.
Job was good, money was good, health was good, relationships were good, pretty much everything in my life was good.
So good, there was no real need for God. I was the man, firmly in control of my ship.
I’m not sure what had led me back to church that Sunday night in Saraland, Alabama, to what was at the time North Mobile Baptist, but I do recall the feeling as I walked in and took my seat…. I felt like an imposter.
Not because of the congregation, they were welcoming, but because of me. Because I had ignored God for so long, and I knew better.
I remember two things from that night. I remember taking a seat as far back as possible and sitting there feeling like God wanted to say…. “What are you doing here”, which was not God talking to me at all, it was the enemy, only I did not understand this at the time.
That was then, and I struggled for well over a decade after that night, dropping in and out of church attendance, often dictated by how “good” or “bad” my life was going. Sound familiar?
Several years ago I gave my life to Christ, took me long enough. Not too long after that I made another decision, which was to go to church, like…. every single Sunday.
For the record, going to church won’t get you into Heaven, and not going to church won’t keep you out. That’s the truth.
But here is what I have found….
In essence I have dedicated time every Sunday for over three years now to the Lord. I have “offered” Him that time, and He has blessed the effort, and the time I have given Him.
I’ve received more “spiritual growth” and “spiritual blessing” out of regular attendance in the last three plus years of my life than I have in the prior 47 years combined. Also truth.
You read about that spiritual growth and blessing in the stories I write and the things I share. Those are the dividends.
Look…. Don’t misinterpret what I am saying. I’m not saying “look at me, look at me, I go to church”! That’s not the point.
What I am saying is that if you want God to work in your life then you’ve got to consistently….
Seek Him in your life…. give Him access to your life…. and give Him “time” in your life. That’s how it works.
No one has handed me a gold star for three years of perfect annual church attendance, and unless someone takes the time to read this story, then they will never know it even happened.
I’ll tell you what else won’t happen….
You won’t ever find me slinking into the back pew or feeling like an imposter when I get there, because Brother when I arrive…. I am right where I belong!
I am excited to be there, I arrive “expectantly”, and God willing, I’ll be there for lots and lots more Sundays too come!
Seek God in your life…. give Him access to your life…. give Him “time” in your life. Make attendance a habit. Just do it.
Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.
From Nose To Toes!
Shane / #16…. The1SixProject.com
(Yes, sharing is encouraged 👊🏻)