A few years ago, my hair had grown to a decent length to the point where you could say I had long hair. At the time, I was ecstatic, and I made sure I did all the right things to retain my hair’s length; however, for some reason, all my good intentions were derailed when I stopped doing what worked for me and started trying new products and listening to hair influencers. Worst mistake ever because instead of retaining the length of my hair and improving its overall health, I experienced severe breakage. Thus, I had to say goodbye to my long, beautiful hair.

To say I was distraught is an understatement, and you know what, I had only myself to blame. I had exchanged what worked for products and advice that I had never proven. Notwithstanding, I decided to regrow my hair, and to achieve my previous length, I returned to the products and techniques that had worked in the past, and the results have been amazing. My previous hair length is almost back.

My point in sharing this story is twofold. One, I want to remind you that the same thing can happen to you spiritually. You can be growing in God, hearing His voice, fulfilling His purpose for your life then suddenly realize you have had a setback in your relationship with Him because you have begun to listen to new voices and or try unproven methods. Two, sometimes in order to return to the level or place we once were in God, we may have to go back to what we did in the past.

In his letter to the Ephesian church, Jesus’ complaint was that the believers in Ephesus had left their first love, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” Revelation (2:4-5). Note the solution, “repent…and do the first works.”

Leaving one’s first love is not unique to the Ephesians church. It is a universal church problem. I have heard people testify about how once they were devoted and committed to God and how that devotion and commitment waned over time. Put simply, the desire, fervency, and passion they once had for God and the things of God are all but dead. Fortunately, though, these feelings can be rekindled. You can regain the depth of love that you first had for Jesus. You can return to your first love.

How so? Follow these two steps. Step 1: Repent.  Repent means to turn or change direction. “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (NLT). Step 2: Make God the priority in your life. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). Repenting and making God the priority in your life will return you to your first love and even more, it will allow you to fulfill God’s first and great commandment, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).