Dealing with the doldrums of February...

We are currently in the doldrums of dreary February in sunless southwest Ohio.  Most people I have been interacting with lately have lacked motivation and desire to do much of anything.  This includes me. I feel tired and unmotivated. So, what do you do when you don't feel like doing much of anything?  First, I would recommend moving towards God by faith in prayer. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."   By faith move towards God. Be honest with how you are feeling.   He desires to reward those who continually seek Him whether you feel like it or not. (Hebrews 11:6)  Secondly, move towards a friend.  I normally want friends to read my mind and know what is going on in my life. But the reality is that my friends cannot read my mind and are just as busy as I am. So, I move towards my friends by faith.  Genesis 2:18  says, "It is not good for man to be alone."  Third, make decisions to do what you know is good regardless of how you feel because without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Heb. 11:6)  I really think that one of the most significant truths I have ever learned is how to make decisions by faith whether I feel like doing them or not.  Just this morning,  I had a thought to do the dishes for my wife. But I had no feelings about serving her at all. But as I reflected on how much this ministers to my wife, I served her by faith. Lastly, renew your mind with this reality: "In Your presence is fullness of Joy, at Your right hand are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11b) Are these principles a guarantee you will get out of the doldrums?  Nope... But, let's let the doldrums of February be instructive in how to walk by faith, not by feelings!!  For when we learn this basic truth, we have a chance to finish well.   

Zakar God's Faithfulness...

After studying Hebrew for an entire summer, I cannot recall much of what I "learned". The irony is that one of the few words I do remember is Zakar (זָכַר ) which means "to remember".  This little word is used 222 times in the Hebrew Bible.   This morning I was reminded of this word while studying Deuteronomy 8.  God says to Israel as they are preparing to enter the Promise Land to not forget the Lord who brought you out of slavery (Dt. 8:14) He is the One who led Israel through the wilderness. (Dt. 8:15-16)  Deuteronomy repeats over and over again truths that Israel had already learned.  This repetition occured because Israel had the same problem we have today in 2011. This is the problem that I suffer from on a daily basis.  He says, "Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth."  How often I forget that all the good that I have is form the Lord.  I suffer from what I call Christian amnesia.  I tend to forgot all the ways in which God has worked in my life.  I forget God's faithfulness in countless ways.    What is the cure?  "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth..." (Dt. 8:18) We are to Zakar that the Lord is the One who has given us all that we have.  This is a great challenge this Thanksgiving week.  I want to spend time remembering God's faithfulness in my life.  It is because of his grace that I get to take another breath.  Before you do anything else, pause, and thank God for His faithfulness in your life.  Start a list of things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. How long would your list be?