Issue 1349 – Cabin Fever – May 4, 2024
I have a terrible case of cabin fever and am stuck in a rut. I’m still battling the nasty cold/flu bug. For the past two weeks, I haven’t left the house other than briefly sitting in the backyard watching the birds.
I look forward to getting out once things settle down enough that I don’t think I am contagious anymore.
I have been stuck in that awkward stage, too sick to concentrate on anything or have any stamina but well enough to want to do something.
I need to catch up on my social time, aquafit classes, community group and Sunday worship at the local assembly. I have had to turn down requests to go out for coffee. Although I’m an introvert by nature, I do need some level of social interaction to stay sane.
My poor wife has had to endure a husband who is sick enough to have to stay home but not so ill as to be in the hospital. That means she has been the brunt of my whining. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but it feels like I have been stuck in this rut forever. It probably feels longer to her.
I thank God that she loves me and endures.
We can sometimes get stuck in a spiritual rut as well. We’re not committed to our faith; it’s become humdrum and routine. We start skipping church or only doing the minimum. We have given up on reading the Word and praying. If we haven’t given them up entirely, we are simply going through the motions.
Yet, the Spirit still lives in us, and we know we ought to do something about our dullness, which resembles a spiritual form of depression.
How can we break out of the rut?
Firstly, we must be honest with ourselves and admit that the flames have grown cold. There may not even be a flame, just the tiniest bit of heat left in the coal.
We must repent once we recognize the problem and ask the Spirit to fan the flames back into life. The Spirit is often likened to the wind for good reason: He acts as the breath of God.
The Spirit dwells in every believer.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21-21
He seals us.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-14
The Spirit is there to help us conform to the image of Christ. Let’s encourage that work.
Pick up your Bible, return to church and ask the Holy Spirit to quicken your heart. It may not happen immediately, but God is faithful. He can break you out of any rut and free you from any confining cabin.
Turn back to Him. The Lord will embrace you with open arms.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.
Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1
___________________________________________
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)