I am a planner by nature. A plan and executing a plan inspires and invigorates me. I realize that much of this has to do with personality type but I think for most of us purpose, goals and plans keep us not only on track but lend themselves to mental and emotional health. Just like plans executed on for good nutrition and exercise keep our bodies in shape our life plans buoy us up with hope and determination. However, when something turns our plans and perhaps routines upside down we can be in for a downward spiral. This is true for our spiritual lives as well. Sheltering in place has brought new opportunities for study, zoom fellowship and on line worship and teaching but it has also been a significant disruptor. We no longer have the opportunity to fellowship in person with those of our spiritual family. Gone is personal congregational worship, which is not only inspiring but infectious.  Those two elements have been missing for some time now and can lead to spiritual fatigue. Working to stay close to the Lord and growing in your faith perhaps while your physical fellowship is simply with your spouse can be exciting in the beginning but fatiguing as time goes on with no change.

So what do we do to stay in shape so that fatigue and inertia don’t take over? Just as we would check in with our bodies fatigue or lack of strength the same is true spiritually. If we find ourselves a bit dry how do find new refreshment, strength and vitality. One of the answers is found in Matthew:

Matthew 5:6 Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.

When I forget to eat it is not pretty. Dave has been know numerous times to find the nearest store while traveling is my “hanger” starts to show! Lots of people can go all day with out food but I am not one of them. It’s the same for me spiritually. If I stay in the word daily and feed those areas that I know need nourishment I am OK. When I get too preoccupied for daily study I find myself weak, with little to give. That is why the Lord tells us to hunger and thirst for Him because just as our bodies health depends on food and water the nourishment He gives us spiritually keep us from spiritual fatigue.

In times of need for refreshment I turn to Psalm 1

1 [a]Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).
2 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
3 
And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season;
Its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

After assessing our spiritual health and fitness it may be time to change things up. A new plan may be needed.

Perhaps for now it is a new schedule for a quiet time. We might find someone to do a new study with. I know my friend and I have just started a study of revelations and Romans on U Version. I am doing another devotional with family in Iowa. I have a young friend who shares new interesting podcasts with me for my daily walk. I listen to Jerry and Kimberly Dirmann from the Rock most days and it is a lifeline. I don’t do all these every day but the more word I hear and meditate on the more refreshed I find myself.

Fitness requires training. I dusted off my Wii fitness again and was amazed at how quickly I had gotten out of shape, again….. The Wii talks to you and tells you when “you are a little shaky” or “not too flexible today”, or “let’s work on that strength and endurance”. Ouch, the truth hurts…However, it was a great wake up call to stick with a training routine and even in just a couple of weeks I am seeing improvement.

The Lord showed me that our walk with Him is much the same. When we do a periodic inventory we may find we ourselves weak in an area or two and realize its time for some training.

We train our mouths:To Decree and Declare the promises of God . We train our mouths to stop saying the negative and to say what God says about us, our future, our finances and our health. We train our mouths to bless ourselves and to bless others.

We really have to think before we speak. Will what I am saying build me up or tear me down? Will what I say edify someone else or condemn them? We have to practice speaking promises rather than paralyzing predictions.

“ The stock market/housing market, job market is down, there goes my future”

Instead, Praise God, my God is my source and he is Jehovah Jirah, my provider.

Mark 11:22-24

22And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Friends, we can have what we say. With our words we are choosing life or death, sickness or health, poverty or plenty. We have to re-train our words to agree with God’s words.

We train ourminds: To take captive every thought that is contrary to the word of God. If we are not in the word we may not notice when our thoughts stray from it.

We train our eyes

Psalm 101:3

3I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.

Be careful what you are watching. Images are powerful.  I have realized this anew with images on the news around this virus.

We train our earsto hear the whisper of God directing us. We talked about this last week.  To sense that gentle nudge in our spirits. We train ourselves to be quiet and wait on Him to speak. We also have to be careful who we are listening to. The news can be important but I am careful how much I listen to. I enjoy people and conversation but have learned to not sit for long listening to opinions contrary to Gods word. Be careful who you are listening to.

We train our emotionsto not get the best of us. We take control, not our emotions. Please pay special attention to this one. You are in control and you are controlled by the Holy Spirit. If you find fear or anger taking over, stop and pray and praise.

2 Timothy 1:7

7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Refresh yourself with Worship. Fill your house with music that builds you up. I love that expressed praise promises to lift us:

Isaiah 61;3

The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Praise ushers us into God’s presence.

 “He inhabits the praises of His people.”  Psa. 22:3

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;” 1 Pet. 2:9

 “In His presence, there is fullness of joy.”  Psa. 16:11

So train your eyes, ears, thoughts and emotions to line up with Gods word. Meditate on his word day and night. Write out the promises in the areas you find yourself a bit weak in. Paste them around the house and practice saying them, memorizing them and strengthening yourself in the Lord during this time of sheltering in. Renew your spirit by listening to praise and worship music. Find new partners to pray or study with and find your fatigue melt away as strength and joy replace it.