Have you ever had "the blahs?" A feeling of boredom, of not being excited or passionate about anything, not daring to hope for more because you've been disappointed before?
I'm here to tell you today: that's not God's will for you! In fact, Jesus died on the cross so that you may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]! (John 10:10 AMP)
It's easy to get caught up in what is (or isn't) happening in your life and focus on it until it gets you down. But if we're going to call ourselves Bible believers, we're going to have to believe the Bible, and stopped being moved by circumstances.
And the Bible says that Jesus came to give you an enjoyable, abundant life! It's important that you realize that and make it part of your every day thinking. It's part of your covenant to be living each day grounded in love, full of passion and excitement for life, and inspiring others to do the same.
And just like everything else from God, you obtain this life by your faith - by believing it. A good start would be to say out loud right now: "God wants me to have a vibrant and wonderful life, and I can!"
So how can you get from "the blahs" to "life abundant?" Instead of feeling bad about the way the world is designed, or waiting for something to happen that will make you feel better, you could do what 2 Timothy 1:6 says and stir up the gift of God which is in you.
That verse encourages me, because to me it means that God knew there would be times when we'd need to be stirred up! He's not mad at you for the blahs - He's showing you a way out. And notice in that verse who's supposed to do the stirring. You are.
I think too often we expect some outward circumstance to stir us out of the blahs. But that's not what the Bible says. Don't be a victim of what's happening around you. Don't wait for circumstances to bring you joy - you already have it (Ro. 14:17). It's in you - stir it up! Stop looking outside, and look inside for abundant life. Here are just 4 ways to help you stir it up:
1. Take the Limits Off Luke -1:37 says, Nothing is impossible with God. If you're a Bible believer, you'll have to believe that's true in your life. It's only the unrenewed parts of your mind that put limitations on your life. When you renew your mind with the Word of God, you can start thinking like He thinks, and that gets rid of the thought processes that lead to discouragement or "the blahs." So spend more time reading the Word, meditating on it, listening to it - and expect answers to be revealed like you've never seen before.
2. Pray out the mysteries - Proverbs 20:5 says, Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. One of the ways to draw out the gift of God that's in you is to pray in the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:2). Praying in tongues can build you up, purge impurities from your life and help you get a clearer picture of God's plan for your life.
3. Change your perspective - Recently I received an e-mail from a young couple who has sold all their worldly goods and moved to Amman, Jordan where God has called them to reach the Muslims. There they are, smack dab in the middle of enemy territory, daily risking their lives to take the Gospel to people who may well hate them. Somehow, it put things in perspective.
Truthfully, there's a world out there, all around us, that is lost and hurting and dying every day. We have the Good News living inside us! We know the One who can make a daily and eternal difference in their lives. There's no time or place for the "blahs" - let's focus on something besides ourselves and reach out!
4. Enjoy today - Psalm 118:24 says, This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. First, it's an act of your will. Second, remember that today will never come again; instead of waiting for happiness tomorrow, seize today. Expect good things! Every time a miracle happened, it was on a "today."
Beat the "blahs" in your life - be encouraged today, and stir yourself up!
