The sole purpose of this blog is to warn you of mediocracy that you may find within your own personal Christian walk. I believe that I am not alone in saying this, but there have been times in my life where I feel like I am at a dead stand-still. Have you ever felt that routine and adapting to a repetitive life has cemented your feet to the ground? Have you felt as if you are not going anywhere, and you cannot regain the strength to pick up your feet from the ground to even walk?
Stuck in a Routine
I found myself at a dead stand-still last month. I wanted to continue on the path and I wanted to run the race in my Christian life, but, instead, I found that I was trapped in the utter lifestyle of routine. I struggle because I love routine, especially as a person who struggles with anxiety. Getting into a consistent routine makes me feel comfortable and less anxious. Routine is not all pleasant, despite how it may seem... Dear reader, I have grown to loathe routine because it has become debilitating in my life. Routine makes me less sensitive to conviction, and to me, it seems like one of my greatest battles. If I am doing the same thing every day, I am not growing and I am not moving. My feet began to get stuck last month in wet cement, and I could feel the cement hardening. You see, I began to find my prayers repetitive, and my Bible reading became a simple routine, rather than a product of having the desire to do so. I began to get frustrated to the point I spent nights in tears because I felt completely stuck. This caused me to grow weary, and for that reason, I was in desperate want of a new flame within my soul. In these moments, I realized I had been relying on my own strength to carry on, not Christ’s unwavering strength.
Overcoming the Stand-still
I was scrolling through social media one day, and I saw a friend post Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” I found myself teary-eyed. I was weary in well-doing, and I needed my Jesus to give me strength to persevere in my Christian walk. It was in this moment, I began to pray and seek strength to continue on the path in which Christ has called me. I knew that handing my life back over to His path for me meant forsaking my beloved routine, and allowing Christ to work in new ways. I wanted to be drawn afresh to the mercy seat, I was desperate to have a new desire to continue on the path which God had called me. I was inspired to read how Paul encouraged the Church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Run the race that you may obtain.” Paul did not say run when if fits in your schedule. Paul avoided saying stop running until you feel capable. The will of Christ is progressive. The will of Christ will not keep us at a dead stand-still. Lastly, the will of Christ involves action. Maybe within the race He needs you to encourage, teach, preach, speak wisdom, etc. We need only to become sensitive to what He would have us to do within His will. It is our job to progress through prayer, devotions, listening for His voice, and acting our faith out loud. May we all continue to run, and to not grow weary. May we fix our eyes on Christ, our prize. A progressive life, like Paul speaks about, is looking to Christ and helping others above all else. The moment we look inward and to ourselves, whether it be like me or in a different way, we will be stuck without movement. May He increase, and may I decrease, just as John 3:30 states. A purpose-driven life is not found in ourselves, but rather in Christ, then established through the furthering of His Kingdom.
Will you join me? Let us run and not grow weary, precious readers!