I Wish I Could Always Stay Here.

So. I want this to be quick so I can cram for my Bio midterm. I may be getting into a longish post however. xPP >.>

So, I stumbled upon (no not actually.) this song when I was trying to get a set list for worship one week and I really liked it, but I didn't think it should be in the set list. So I wrote down in a blog post draft titled "Note to Self" that I should blog about this eventually.

Can I Stay Here Forever by Starfield. The lyrics are as follows:

Through forgotten convictions
Misplaced affections
I'm losing the sound of Your voice
I've been chasing after emptiness
Trying to tidy up this mess
I swear I've been down this road before
I want to get back to where it all began
When I would long for only You

Like a child I'll take You at Your word
As these mountains of doubt, they fade away
I'm longing to trust and love You more
So for me this is beautiful
A brand new thought, and a brand new world
Can I stay here forever here with You?

I've lost sight of what first drew me
To the love that pursued me
The joy that inspired my song
The friendship that was all I knew
The arms that I would fall into
Seem miles and years from where I am today
I gotta get back to where it all began
When I would wait for only You

Can I stay here forever
Here with you?
Surrounded by Your mercy
Clothed in Your truth
Always, I'll stay
Always here with You

Can I be here forever
Here with You?
Can I know what it's like
To deeply love You?
Always, Lord, let me stay
Always, here with You



Also, we are playing this song for worship during Getaway and I really like singing it. Rediscover You by Starfield. Lyrics:

I need to just admit
my faith is paper thin
I'm feeling so burned out
On religion

I say an empty prayer
I sing a tired song
I need to just admit that the passion's gone

And I want to get it back

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I'm here
Like I'm searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move
Help me rediscover You

I want to learn to pray
The way that David prayed
I want my soul to burn when I hear Your name
I want to feel like new
I want to hunger for you
Bring me back to life like only You can do
Cause I don't want to stay the same

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I'm here
Like I'm searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move
Help me rediscover You

Lord, I want to be Yours today
I want to know the passion of the saints
And how they were changed

You told me
Look for You and I will find
So I'm here
Like I'm searching for the first time
Revive me, Jesus
Make this cold heart start to move

I want to burn for You
Bring me back to life, Jesus
Help me rediscover You



Both songs express how they were passionate for Jesus and just living for God. In the first song, they ended up being drawn away by other things and started losing touch with God. In the second song, it became so much about the traditions, practices and keeping up their appearance while no longer actually connecting with God.

1. How did they ever come to know God?

"I've lost sight of what first drew me, to the love that pursued me." God loves you. God loves every person He has created. He has made each of us with a unique purpose and He loves each of us and wants us to be in a loving relationship with Him.

2. Why did they ever leave this relationship if they had come into relationship with Him?

Everyone has fallen short of the glory of God. The original reason and most of the reasons since then is that we get so focused on ourselves and satisfying our own desires by our own means that we lose sight of the fact that God provides for us and instead go our own way. The thing is, God created us with free will. This is amazing. He could have forced us to follow Him, but if we so desire, he will let us do as we wish. However, disobeying Him and seeking to fulfill our desires separates us from Him. "I've been chasing after emptiness / Trying to tidy up this mess" Things like lusting over women, or seeking to be popular to try and substitute for the hole where God was in our hearts doesn't work. We were built to have Him in our lives.

3. Can we get back to a relationship with God on our own?

The answer is no. Nothing we can do can reconnect us. There are a few main ways that people try to get back to God by becoming 'more holy' in various ways, such as doing good works, religion or philosophies. As it says in the second song he confesses about how empty religion is "I'm feeling so burned out on religion, I say an empty prayer, I sing a tired song" but it's not the same, it's not a real relationship with God.

4. So how do we get back into a relationship with God?

In the songs they sing of getting back to where they were or rediscovering Him, so it must be possible. The answer is in God's love for us. While we were still going our own way separated by our own decision, God took it on Himself to come to us and even then He was rejected. God gave His only son on the cross so that we can have a relationship with Him. The effect of going our own way, the payment for that is death. Only through Jesus' death have our past actions been erased so that we can enter a relationship with God again if we so desire.

5. Jesus died, so I'm good now, right?

Well, yes and no. Yes, He did die, but you can't just know this and then BAM! without doing anything your life is fine. Jesus also came back to life and that has to be reflected in what we do as well. We were dead in our sins, but alive in Jesus. We can't continue living separated from God, that's what got us where we were. You have to put your trust in the fact that He did this for you and ask Him to be a part of your life. This isn't a one time thing. Every Christian ends up going back to the way they were at some point. It's a challenge sometimes, why else would there be so many songs about it? But the thing is, when you turn away again, you turn right back and continue to trust God for what He does in your life.

6. So, how do I ask Jesus to come into my life, and what does that mean?

The way we talk to God is in prayer. But just praying without your heart in it means nothing. The words don't matter as long as you truly mean them. The amazing thing is that God always listens to us when we pray to Him. The following is a sample prayer that you can pray, but you can say whatever you think you need to.

Part two of the question: What it means is that Jesus will be in your life and with you always. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will be able to live an empowered life to live the way God intended.

Sample Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. I'm sorry for going my own way and trying to find my own path. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door to my life and ask you to be my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen.

7. Now what?

Now you are filled with the Holy Spirit and are in a relationship with Jesus. All your past sins have been forgiven and you have just started a long journey. "As these mountains of doubt, they fade away, I'm longing to trust and love You more". There will be times when you doubt, but if you truly seek, you will find God's truth and love for you wipe away the doubts. There's always room to grow closer to God, it's not an instant process. I still have a long way to go. The best way to start growing in your relationship is by exploring God's word, the Bible, and see what He has done for you. I advise starting in the book of John. You should also pray regularly. No relationship grows if only one person is doing the talking. You should also get to know some other people who trust in God by joining a Bible study or going to a church.

Also, if you have just accepted Christ into your life, please message me. =D I'm super excited about this. Leave a comment, or you can email me: dylan.dfa@gmail.com

Ya. xP I hope you come to know God more closely and I will try to help answer any questions or help you in any way I can.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. There is a lot more I could tell you about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

PPS. Starfield is pretty cool.