Vision 2020Sample

Day 13 ## Spiritual Energy Romans 12:11, 12 (NIV) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Have you ever felt like your spiritual energy was depleted? I am sure we all have experienced times in our lives when we felt that our spiritual batteries were drained. In this passage the Apostle Paul provides us with a clear admonition regarding the importance of maintaining our spiritual energy in the midst of the ever-present pressures of daily living. There are many potential obstacles facing us as Christian believers. Perhaps two of the most common obstacles are spiritual apathy and discouragement. “Apathy” is defined as “indifference, lack of interest or concern.” Spiritual apathy involves the loss of our spiritual concern. We grow cold in our relationship with God. We may continue to attend church, we may even maintain some level of communication with God, yet, internally, we have lost our enthusiasm for Christ and His Kingdom. In the words of the Apostle Paul we “lose our spiritual fervor and zeal.” The other dangerous obstacle that must be avoided, if we are to live a joyous Christian life, is discouragement. The discouraged person is the one who has grown tired and weary from persistent pressures, unfulfilled goals and uncooperative circumstances. Discouragement is one of the most serious diseases of the soul. It depletes us internally, robbing our hope, casting shadows of doubt on our faith. Today’s passage instructs us to avoid both of these deadly traps. We must not lose our spiritual zeal and fervor. We are also instructed to maintain a patient hope during our times of difficulty. How do we fulfill these instructions? The Holy Spirit gives us an important key. We are to be “faithful in prayer.” The believer who makes a commitment to faithfulness in prayer will find that their spirit is recharged, refueled and refreshed. A consistent and disciplined prayer life is a pathway to the streams of quiet waters where our spirit and soul is regularly restored. Perhaps you feel like your spiritual battery has lost some of its charge. Maybe you have been discouraged over certain events that have recently occurred in your life. Seek the renewal of the Lord. You can overcome apathy and discouragement. Commit to spend time with God daily and boost up your spiritual energy!