| One
day when Jesus was preaching at a house in Capernaum, 'four men arrived
carrying a paralysed man on a mat.' This man wanted to move but he
couldn't. And spiritual paralysis works that way too. Inside, you know
you have what it takes to succeed, but your spirit isn't responding.
What's going on? Unremitting stress creates pressure that eventually
turns to frustration, and constant frustration produces weariness. You
feel bland. Nothing excites you. One day feels like the next, until you
start believing that nothing will ever go right for you. It doesn't
matter whether you live in a mansion or a mud hut; unless you're free in
your spirit, it's like living in a prison. There are different kinds of
spiritual paralysis. There's the kind that leaves you with
out-of-control emotions. You can't hold on to what you need, like a job
or a relationship. You know something's wrong but you can't seem to make
it right. Another type of spiritual paralysis stems from mental,
emotional, and physical exhaustion. When people are continually drawing
from you, eventually you run dry. It's impossible to be an encouragement
to others without refilling your own well at the Source. Refuse to
spend another day in a paralysed, out-of-control, exhausted state. Like
the man in today's story, you'll find your answer in Jesus. He gives
joy, freedom and purpose to life; He 'refreshes the weary and satisfies
the faint' (Isaiah 40:31). But you have a part to play as well: to
'...build [yourself] up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy
Spirit. Keep [yourself] in God's love' (Jude 20-21 NIV).
|
No comments:
Post a Comment