What do you do when your "want to" has "got up and gone?" You have no desire, no pep, and no incentive. Life is boring and empty. It is hard to get up in the morning or keep your mind on what you are doing.
You must first realize you are in big trouble. Life is not supposed to be this way. There was a time you had joy and loved your job. There was a time you enjoyed sports or hobbies. But now look at yourself; you are a mess. What happened to you?
You lost your purpose. Somehow along the way in the journey of life you became sidetracked. We humans have a bad weakness of letting the stress of our jobs, family, etc. steal our joy. We get bogged down with details and the repetition of everyday life. There is nothing new. Everything is the same day after day after day.
First you must understand that you are not alone in feeling like this. Far too many people are in this boat and don't realize it. They believe life is like this for them and everyone else. However this is just not true. We humans are to have joy and enjoy life. To be fulfilled and satisfied.
To get out of a rut, you must first admit you are in one. That is the first step and a big step. Now that you admit it, what are you going to do about it? That is the question.
There are many things you can do. Start a new hobby, go to exercise classes, join the gym, read new books, join a church, become a volunteer for some worthy cause, but do something. Take charge of your life. Every day wasted is one you will not get back.
Another way to get out of the rut is to seek out some new friends. New friends bring a variety of new ideas and opportunities. Maybe part of your rut problem is your friends you have now. Think about it.
Another way to get out of the rut is to change some things you can change quickly. One way is different clothes or hair style. Our clothes speak a lot about us. They can make us feel young or old, happy or sad. I am not kidding.
Another way to get out of the rut may be to change where you shop or buy your gas. Meet new people. The world is full of great people. Maybe where you go for coffee or lunch, find a new place. Get out of the rut.
I know life is not all fun and games, but it can be joyful. Life is serious, our careers are serious, our marriages are serious, our friends are important, but don't take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Smile, laugh, and see if you don't feel better. Laugh at yourself once in a while. We all do stupid things once in a while.
The Bible has a great one-liner: "I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all of his toil - this is a gift from God." (Eccl. 3:12, 13)
Have a good day and today get out of that rut!
Chaplain Bud,
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses". 1Timothy 6:12
Paul is writing to his young disciple and giving him good advice. Fight for The Faith; The Gospel, The Good News, that Jesus saves. That salvation is found in no other name under heaven. He is saying there is only one way to heaven. The Faith.
Paul also is encouraging Timothy to keep his life pure. Why should he do this? I want to list some reasons, of why keeping your life pure has some great benefits to the Christian and God's kingdom.
Your life is a message.
Every born again Christian is a testimony to the power of God. The message is that you were transformed. The old is gone, the new has come. People see your life.
Your message has authority.
Authority is your submission to God's authority. We are under His authority, and we are His ambassadors. To speak for God, we must live for God.
Your fruit will be good.
Jesus said, "by their fruit you shall know them". When you keep your life pure and fight the good fight of The Faith, your fruit will be of the spiritual nature not the sinful nature.
Your life will have value.
As Christians, we live under God's law which has a special value system. You are valuable as a servant and soldier of the cross. The value is in the mission.
Your future will be secure.
Our hope is our security; God's promise and His provisions. The Faith is our trust in God not the world. This life on earth is just temporary but we live with God eternally.
Your God will be glorified.
Our lives are to bring glory to God and His kingdom. When we please God, we bring glory. When we avoid sin, we bring glory. When we witness, we bring glory. That is why we are Kingdom people.
Your family will be blessed.
Good off springs come from godly parents. Sinfulness blocks God's blessings. Keeping our lives pure is a way of living to please God and in turn we are open to His blessings.
Your mission will be blameless.
Paul encouraged Timothy to live a blameless life. God encourages us to live that way also. We are on a mission, each of us. Don't give the enemy any reason to ambush the mission.
These are just a few reasons to fight the good fight for The Faith, and to keep your life pure. There are many others, but you get the picture. God is counting on His people, the church, to live under different standards than the world's standards. We would do well to heed Paul's teachings.
See ya in church
Bud