Today’s Spiritual Theme: “A Don’t Give up Kind of Mindset”

Scriptural Focus: Psalm139: 23 KJV – “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

King James Version

Supporting Scripture: Galatians 6:9 KJV – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

King James Version

Supporting Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 KJV – “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

King James Version

Devotional Reflection

“A Don’t Give Up Kind of Mindset”

Sis, God knows our every thought. It is He that knows when we are tired and fatigue. We’ve been running the race before us and we are tired but it is the Lord that knows this and it is only He that can give us the endurance and the strength to continue on. As we continue to ask the Lord to search our hearts, it is important that he search out the fatigue and frustration that is making us weary in this season and replenish it with patience so that we may continue to run this race.

I want us to continue to celebrate how far we have come in this journey. That’s important but we cannot allow ourselves to become distracted by the journey that remains. We must remain faithful and continue to run the race but the Hebrews writer tells us that we must run it with patience.

The definition of fatigue is an overwhelming sense of extreme tiredness, exhaustion, or lack of energy that goes beyond ordinary sleepiness and is not always relieved by rest. (According to https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21206-fatigue) This is the physical side of fatigue but what about spiritual fatigue. Spiritual fatigue is a feeling exhaustion mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that leaves you feeling drained and overwhelmed by the cares of this world.

Have you been there, Sis? I have. Where you feels as if you can not continue the race. There is some much going around you that you don’t even what to read the Word of God or pray. The spiritual fatigue is so to the point where you catch yourself missing Bible Study or even Sunday Morning Worship. It becomes easy for you to become distracted by the “noise” around you. Have you ever felt like you are doing good and focused on what it is that God wants you to do, you’re praying, reading your Word, you have the joy of the Lord and then all of a sudden you feel like all your energy and motivation has gone out of the window. THAT, Sis, is SPIRITUAL FATIGUE! Let us be reminded that we are to not be weary in doing that which is good but if we continue we shall reap if we don’t give up.

Hang in there, Sis! It is tempting to want to go back to the way you used to be. It seems like nobody bothered you. Seemed like you had more money and more freedoms but child, believe me you do not want to turn back to those times. Continue to run the race forward, not backward. Don’t look back at what once was. You wouldn’t want to have “Lot’s Wife Syndrome”, would you?

Don’t faint, don’t give us, and don’t look back! Hang in there sis!

Journal Prompt

In your journal, write and encouraging letter to yourself to continue to run the race. Include whatever scriptures come to mind today. And then flag this page to come back and read in times of “spiritual fatigue”.

Today’s Challenge

Go for a brisk walk in your neighborhood, to the mailbox, or in your living room. Get the blood flow pumping – and if you want to add an added bonus of encouragement. Turn the walk into a march as a reminder that we are soldiers in the army of the Lord this will really lift your spirits and even cause you to giggle at yourself marching.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, we need you today! Help us to be mindful that only you can give us the patience we need to continue to run this race. Now Lord, we ask that if it be your will that you provide us with the endurance to finish the race that you have place before us. You have all of the power, glory and you deserve all the praise. In Jesus name. Amen.

Sis, Remember This…

Sis, the race is not given to the swift nor to the strong but to the one that endures to the end. Hang in there and continue to run your race with patience.