We are in a weird time of unexpected distancing and a good deal of spare time. There’s a lot of new choices to make; whether it be making a new routine, deciding how to keep ourselves healthy, or how we are going to spend our time at home!
Without intentionally making good choices for ourselves, it can be easy to let the lies of the enemy fill our heads. It is possible to stay stagnant in our relationship with the Lord if we are not choosing to grow with Him. It’s possible to fall into old slumps or habits without making good choices that benefit us. As much as I believe in the upkeep and attention of our mental health I believe even more so in the need for spiritual health; to be the best vessels of the Lord we can be to glorify Him best!
There are so many possible options. I’m the type of person that overthinks all of them for probably much longer than necessary just to make sure I’m making the right choice and getting the results I want. Well everything but food. I don’t really think about food all that much. I just go for it.
Practically, there are things that we NEED to start doing now in order to push ourselves and benefit our future selves to avoid the rut. Decide now that you are going to do things that encourage your spirit and in turn encourage others!
According to science.unctv, each person makes an average of 35,000 decisions per day. That’s a lot of choices! But that is also a lot of room for growth and joy! Let’s start doing things that make us proud, that feel good, that make us better! Let’s do things that encourage us. If we have the option, why wouldn’t we choose it? We owe it to the Lord! Not to earn or gain anything from Him, but to lay ourselves down for Him! He deserves the best version of ourselves!
Here are some practical questions to help guide us to good decisions, especially now!
1. Who can I stay connected with that will encourage me (and who can I encourage?)
People are meant to be together! We crave personal interaction and relationships! We can make sure that we are staying in contact with our friends, our churches, our co-workers, and our people who are far away! We need to be intentional about feeding ourselves with encouraging relationships and life-giving conversation! Be honest with your people, keep focus on God’s promises, listen, receive encouragement, and encourage others with what you know is true about God’s faithfulness! Keep up! Be consistent! Be intentional about loving. Odds are, the people you know feel the same way you do! Help lift their spirits, be a source of joy! Instead of allowing the enemy to come for your thoughts, choose to be reminded that you are not alone!
2. What can I be watching and listening to that will encourage me?
There are LOTS of music options, shows, movies and videos to choose from! The options seem to be endless! Social media is constantly scrolling and scrolling. And through all of it, there’s potential of letting it make us feel a little “off”. Maybe distant from God’s spirit. Just not encouraged. So what choices do you have in your everyday life that will refresh your spirit? Waking up, what makes you feel your best? Choose that! Not what is easy! Throughout your day? What is in the background? Choose something beneficial! Make your family or the people you live with aware of your “best choices”, and encourage them by prioritizing an environment that is helpful for them as well!
3. What routine can I make to be encouraged in the Lord?
What will help you grow closer to the Lord? What time of solitude can you spend with Him? The more you do it, the easier it will be, and the more you will want to grow and feed your spirit with God’s Word! Make your everyday intentional. Do not put God on the backburner because your environment changed. HE is not contained in a church building or a good worship set. He is with you wherever you go, and ready to move amongst your challenges. In fact, that’s often where we can see God moving the most!
Feel good in this season! There’s no time to waste! Rest, rest in Jesus, rest in good decisions, rest in joy and peace, and rest in whatever new role God has put in front of you. Choose it! It will make you better!
