A New Year’s Question – Are You Hot or Cold?

Errrrrr-OK?!

It had been snowing for the past few days with the temperatures dropping into the sub-zeros -12C/10F. My wonderful wife suggested we go for a walk to get some fresh air, and with some hesitancy, I said, “Errrrrrr—OK.” So, we wrapped ourselves up in warm clothes, hats, gloves, boots, and scarves and headed out the door.

Is it Better to Be Hot or Cold?

As I was walking along huffing and puffing in the cold air, I was thinking Man, wouldn’t it be nice to be in shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. I’d like to not have all this stuff on that just makes things burdensome and slow-going. Then I felt the Lord say to me, “Son, is it better to be hot or cold?” I knew He wasn’t referring to my present situation. 

Complacency Can Kill

It says in Proverbs 27:7 (NKJV), A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. This truth clearly illustrates that when we become complacent (cold), even our best relationship becomes loathsome if we allow it! However, when we hunger after the things of God (hot), our relationship will always be filled with sweet moments in time. 

Ask Yourself the Question…

So, the next time we have thoughts like I don’t like this worship; I don’t like this preacher; or I don’t feel like reading my Bible, praying, or spending time with God, these kind of thoughts are clear indicators that our relationship with the Father is growing cold. Let’s face it, most of us have been there, and it’s down to us to get ourselves back into a place of warm, sweet communion with the One who wants to spend time with us, more than anyone else.

Hot vs Cold

As I considered the Lord’s question, my heart’s answer was pretty straightforward: “Well I want be hot.” Then I found myself praying, “Lord never let my own wants and needs cause a coldness to set into my heart. I never want my walk with You to become heavy, burdensome and without passion. I want to follow you with a fervent spirit” (Romans 12:11-13). In other words, I realized it is my responsibility to identify what I can do to keep myself in that place where the coals of my hearts never grow cold. I am the only one who can keep Him at the forefront of my mind and life. 

Stir Yourself Up

We all need to be stirring ourselves up and keeping ourselves full of His ways and His nature. Doesn’t it say in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave us or forsake us, and in James 4:8 that if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us? God never leaves us to the harshness of the outside world to see if our hearts will get cold towards Him. It’s the busyness of life and circumstances that seem to drive us from walking closely with Him.

You Don’t Have to Strive

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to strive to gain God’s ear, favor and heart. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you already have that through Jesus. However, staying stirred up and hungry for relationship with Him reminds us He is always present and waiting for us to come and be with Him. He longs for us to seek His thoughts on the situations we face. This is the only way we will get to know Him in an ongoing way.

Pig Pen or Grace?

I personally have been in that pig pen more than once in my lifetime (obviously I was a slow learner – ha ha ha), and unfortunately, it was always because I had left His side and His ways and wanted to do my own thing in my own way. And unfortunately, this led me down roads I should have never gone down. Yet fortunately, His grace, love and open arms were always there waiting for me to just come back to a place of relationship and safety.

Let God Show Himself Faithful in 2019

So today, if you feel like you’ve lost that fervent heat, a passion for God, I want to encourage you to turn your face back to the One who created you by asking Him to reveal Himself to you in a fresh and new way. 2019 is going to be the year that He will show Himself faithful to you!

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