RECOVERING FROM A FALL (5) – RELEARNING THE BASICS

Pastor, I now take a portion of the word daily. I study and take notes. I also get to pray personally. We also do not joke with praying together in my family now. We did not use to do it before. I did not realize how important these simple things are. I have learnt my lessons now. 

Those were the words of someone who started relearning the basics after a crisis that shook everything to the core and sent life on a spiral. 

The devil can wait twenty years to plot the fall of a man. He knows execution does not take time. Just a blow and it is done! Falling does not begin with falling. No! It begins with little slips here and there. For instance, a man who falls realizes that he has abandoned the basics. 

He believes and knows that it is right to study the word and pray daily, but he now just pays lip service to it. 

He believes and knows that separating a day to wait on the Lord every week strengthens his spirit, but he is was no longer paying attention to it. 

He knows that he is slipping, but his spirit man is drawn to the excitement while undermining the axe of the devil dangling over his head. His conscience is no longer as loud as it used to be. His fleshly desires have overwhelmed his weak spirit. 

David knew this. He knew what went wrong within him. It was a heart-matter. He cried to God for three things: 

Psalms 51:10 NIV

[10] Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A pure heart.  This means that something happened and corrupted his heart. He no longer had the Word hidden in his heart. Something slipped. 

A steadfast spirit. Steadfastness has to do with consistency. It is the ability to stay on course no matter what. It is the strength to remain firm in the face of temptation. 

The Hebrew writer warns us about slipping away: 

Hebrews 2:1 NIV

[1] We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 

How do you ensure that you do not drift away? 

Do not abandon the basics. It looks simple, but that is what works. 

Allocate time to the study of the word and prayer. It is called quiet time. 

Build a system that strengthens your spirit.  If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 

Company with those who will hold you accountable and be open enough to answer questions when necessary. Be sincere enough to cry out when you are drifting away. 

It is as simple as ABC. 

A master is one who has not abandoned the basics. 

Are you back to the basics? If not, you will still return to your mess.