A Heart Returned to the Lord

A Heart Returned to the Lord

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Malachi 3:6-7

For the last two years, I’ve wondered why my walk with the Lord felt dry. I’d find myself almost daily asking, “How did I get here”? Yet, for some reason, I never took it farther than that. Trying to keep my eyes fixed on the one who holds all things together, I kept chugging along doing life, feeling almost empty, if you will.

By God’s grace, I climbed into the tub one night at the end of a long day. I turned on my worship music and immediately felt tense; my chest tightened as I found myself wondering if the person I was listening to chose to adhere to sound doctrine. Was a mash-up of favorite worship songs okay? Is it okay that my spirit is more drawn to contemporary music than the music of old? It’s not that the questions were wrong, but they showed the posture of my heart at that moment. I had a heart not filled with conviction but a heart filled with worry. 

Moments later, I had the most beautiful reminder; I was taken back to the morning I climbed into my dad’s truck a few years ago and found him singing one of these worship songs. God etched that morning into my heart forever, and it set my eyes back on Him. What a gift to witness my dad singing praises to our Savior. Pure-hearted, free from worry, and in a posture of humility. 

It all became abundantly clear, and the Holy Spirit began a great revival in my heart that night. I was brought to the book of Malachi in chapter 3 and was shown the time when God gave His people the opportunity to turn and repent of their sins. He told the people, “Return to me, and I will return to you…” (vs 7). 

The love of Christ will always soften us and pull us out of the pits.

I will forever remember this moment with the Lord; it was the one where He gently turned my gaze back to Him. Humility washed over me once again. God’s grace and mercy poured out over my heart. I immediately felt softened, and the thought of harshness felt repulsive. It is true, and I pray you know this too— the love of Christ will always soften us and pull us out of the pits. His love will make us new and whole. 

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