"Sluggard Mode"
By Erik Farstad
December 17, 1997
"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."
Proverbs 13:4
The only way to lose is not to try. The worst you’ll hear is ‘no’. You have all to gain, but you won’t know until you try. There are many sayings and you’ve probably heard them all. I want you to think about something...
Remember a time in your life when you were succeeding, achieving and for the most part fully satisfied. Did that time in your life pass or are you still living it? When we are passionate about something we give it our all, stop at nothing to achieve it! It is when we are giving our all for what we believe in that we get this sense of satisfaction, especially when our efforts are rewarded with success. When you give 100% in a game, you’ll play better. When you give 100% at your job, you’ll prove more competent. 100% towards all that we do, that is exactly what the Lord wants to see.
Struggling with motivation, feeling like a sluggard? Sure we all do at times, but it is at that moment that you must stand up and start moving again. These feelings can creep into every part of our lives, personal, family, work, friendships and even our relationship with the Lord. Complaisant living, a plateau or feeling like you’ve made it, are the beginning signs of a sluggard. For we can never stop striving for Christ-likeness or stop desiring to glorify the Father through our everyday life activities.
If you haven’t done this in a while try this: Take a break from work, from school, from your housework and spend 5-10 minutes talking with God. Tell Him about your day, week or even month. Let Him know how you feel and what you are thinking. (Of course HE KNOWS what you think and feel, that’s not the point. He just wants to HEAR FROM YOU!) Then listen for His voice, His moving in your life. The first step to getting out of the "Sluggard Mode" is to establish communication with your Host, your Heavenly Host. Much like this computer I’m typing on won’t be able to deliver this message unless connected with a host on the Internet, you can’t connect with God unless you open the line of communication.
Once you’ve re-established communication, you’ll be up and running the race again! The sluggard will give way to the motivated-live-for-Christ-YOU! Yes your race may lead you from your plateau to a challenging hill, but the riches at the top of the hill are worth it!
Let this be your prayer today:
Dear Lord, I desire a diligent heart to strive for greatness in all I do, to give you the glory. I am doomed if I don’t try, and claim your strength and understanding to bring about glory for you! I don’t want to become complaisance in my life, may I desire to grow everyday! Let me always run the race, never to walk and never to stop. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
How is your race going?
In Him, "E"