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Regular Maintenance. It’s a wonderful concept, and one that applies to so many different areas of life. Your car will last longer if you get the oil changed every 5,000 or so miles. You need to rotate your tires, change air filters, change wiper blades, etc. The a/c unit in your home will last longer if you have it serviced occasionally and change the filters. Oh, and your teeth will be in much better shape if you make regular vists to the dentist instead of just going every few years like someone I know (that’d be me.)
This morning I have a dentist appointment because I don’t like to go to the dentist. That’s right – I’m scared. And I’m not afraid to admit it, either. I haven’t been to the dentist in about two years, which is actually not as long of a gap in time as before the last time I went. It seems that I only can make myself go when I get to the point of excruciating pain because of a cavity or some other issue with my teeth. When it comes to regular maintenance, well, I just can’t make myself overcome my fear to go. I have to be motivated by the necessity that pain brings, but by then it’s usually a much bigger ordeal than if I had just gone every six months or so for a regular check up.
Oh, how similar this is to our relationship with God, don’t you think? 

Many of us only go to Him when we are in pain – when we are in desperate need of His help. 

When a friend or family member gets sick, we turn to Him. 

When we have a tragedy of some type, or when it seems like our life is falling apart – then we go to the Rock. 

And He’s always there, and I’m thankful for that. But what if we did things differently?
What if instead of going to Him when a crisis came, we went to Him regularly? What if we allowed Him to do “regular maintenance” on our hearts and lives daily? I’m not saying you have to spend hours upon hours a day reading His Word and praying, but a few minutes a day is better than nothing.  
I’m seriously considering making regular, six-month appointments with the dentist to make sure I don’t get in this predicament again, that’s for sure. Why don’t you join me – make regular visits with Him. Set aside a time every day to talk to Him, and let Him talk back through reading a bit of His Word. I read a chapter each morning for my Quiet Time. I read a bit more than that later in the day usually, but I treasure that chapter each morning. God speaks such volumes to me every single time I open His Bible. He’ll do the same for you.
So right now – why don’t you make an appointment with Him? Don’t wait until the cavities drive you to your knees . . . 

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