How to Begin Following Jesus Once Again

Nothing fancy, nothing planned, just pure unabridged writing from my heart today. Perhaps you are or have been where I am. It’s okay. We can begin following Jesus once again.

Unabridged Writing

Written early Sunday morning, May 30, 2021

Trying to impress people takes away the fun of writing. The joy disappears into obligation and duty. Freedom turns into musts and rules. Writing disappears and just becomes words, periods, verbs, and nouns. None of it inspires. All of it is empty.

Yet, when I set my pen down, and don’t write, something disappears inside of me. I lose. There’s no me expressing me anymore. The fun, the joy, the light-heartedness become stagnant. Dust settles on them, and they wait on a shelf for me to be brave again, to pick them up, blow, shake, and wipe all the dust off of them. 

They haven’t changed, I did. I let the jealousy, trying to please and impress others rob me of the song in my heart. Trying to follow man only led me astray, further away from my calling. Further away from the original purpose, the original assignment, the original excitement.

Then steps in my Lord, who calmly slides in beside me as I walk this man-made path. He keeps my pace. Then I realize my mistake as we talk and walk together. I wasn’t following Him after all. I was following man. I wasn’t walking to the rhythm of God’s pace, He was walking mine.

I started to feel disappointed in myself. Repentance came next as I realized my mistake. God never instructed me to follow man. He instructed me to follow Him.

Sadness, overwhelm, oh, such sadness overtook me. I just sat down and cried, lamented really. How much time had I wasted following man thinking I was following Jesus? 

Confusion, thinking back over the recent years, not everything was wrong, but it is time to get right again. Stop doing it wrong and start doing it right again.

Set my feet on firm foundation, start walking behind Him, following Him, at the pace He sets. Get back into alignment with the One who loves me, delights in me, and who knows all my deepest desires and longings.

Stop comparing my pace with others. I’m not them.

I look up, I see Jesus smiling, reaching out with His hand, gently nodding His head affirming me, “Come child, follow Me. Be brave. Stand up, shake yourself off. It’s okay. I know you got lost and confused, but now you see where you went wrong. Come, follow Me now.”

Detours. Oh, my goodness, the detours. Soothing tears flow, relief. I made a major mistake, and yet He beckons me with love, a smile, a peace and assurance, that it’s okay. I can start again, get back to the original purpose, the original assignment, and resurrect the true me again. 

So, I stand, brush myself off, walk to Him, take His hand, and begin following Him once again, at His pace, in His direction, in His way.

Begin Following Jesus Once Again

No matter where you are today, you can begin following Jesus once again. Sometimes the detours we take lead us astray, but Jesus will reach out to us and lead us back to His original path. His original plan.

He’s kind, ready, and willing to take your hand, pull you up, and show you the way forward. Are you ready to take His hand and follow Him again?