You know those times when you are laid in bed having a think about everything and anything? Well I was doing just that last night, when a thought struck me. I was praying for a list of people, each of whom means a lot to me, and I thought how much I miss those of them that I don't get to see as much anymore. Hang on... isn't that the same for God? Have you ever considered how God feels when someone stops making an effort with Him? Everyone knows that you cannot have a one-way relationship. One side can't do all of the work, it has to be a two-way commitment. God will always fill his side of the equation, but you need to fill your side. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul says:

Don't you know that you are God's sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Hebrews 13:5 says:

I will never leave you or forsake you.

We can't make any excuses with God. We can't claim that He stops making an effort with us, as He has placed His Spirit within us. He won't stop trying to have a relationship with us, but we have to allow Him entry into our lives. He won't force us to love Him, worship Him, or talk to Him. We have to do our part in this. When your friends spend time with you, you don't choose to ignore them, or do anything that might hurt them, but instead you make them feel welcome. This is what we should be like with God. We all have done things that hurt God, but He lives in us, and through love, we should do our best to please Him. Changes in your life shouldn't stop you from being a part of God's life. You know, in life sometimes we weaken our friendship with someone when we stop being a daily part of their lives. I experienced this when I left school. Many people from my school I no longer saw as they didn't come to college. Even though I speak to these people occasionally, I can't really say we are still close. This is what happens when we stop making the effort with God. God longs for our lives to include him as a permanent fixture, not someone that we let in 'now and again'. I pray for my friends to make the decision to follow Jesus, but at the end of the day I can't make that decision for them. They have to make it for themselves. God feels the same. He is desperate for us to choose His way, but He gave us 'choice' for a reason. Remember...you have your own special place in God's heart, and no one can replace you. That also works both ways. There is a part of you that can only be filled when you are in relationship with Jesus.