Start doing the things you did first. Sometimes we need to get back to the basics, remembering the fundamentals of a task. In the book of Revelation the church at Ephesus is rebuked for forgetting its first love. Things had clouded their love for Christ and His church. Maybe they hadn't forgotten, but they had surely let others things take precedent.

"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated [many things] because of My name and have not grown weary. But have this against you: You have abandoned the love [you had] at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lamp-stand from its place-unless you repent." Revelation 2:1-5

Do you remember the time right after you accepted Christ as Savior? I do...I couldn't get enough of being with Him. I wanted to listen for God, I wanted to read about Him, I wanted to talk to Him, I couldn't wait to get to church.

There are still many days like that but there are those days when things get in the way...I allow things to cloud the view of my 'first love.' When the cloud bank of the "other things" makes God's presence seem distant I have to go back to the way things were at the beginning, even if I don't feel like it. I have to talk to God, I have to read about Him, I have to be quiet and listen.

Sunday morning is only a few days away; will worship this weekend be just something to check off your list?

Or will it be an ecstatic conversation with the Savior of Your soul?

And will it have the same emotion as the beginning of your relationship? It can!

It is not too late to get back to the beginning God is always pursuing you and ready to forgive. He wants it to be much better than the beginning.

A step toward a fresh encounter with God can begin right now and continue this weekend with a congregation in worship. Remember how it was at the beginning and know that it can be much better than the beginning by constantly remembering the beginning.

Here are some specific things you can do:

take a few minutes and ask God to open your mind to His voice
find out what some of the songs will be for this weekend's services and sing through them.
do your best to find the scriptures the pastor will examine tomorrow and read through them
pray for those who will lead worship
think about the time you first said yes to Christ...remember how He pursued you and you said yes. Remember the excitement of the new relationship.
get to church early...find your place and start talking to God before the service begins.