In Romans 12:11-12 I read, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (NIV)
In order to reach my goals, I have to figure out how to maintain my enthusiasm over the long haul, or I’m never going to make it to the finish line.
So how do I stay enthusiastic day after day in spite of delays, difficulties, dead ends, problems, pressures, and criticisms? Positive thinking is not enough. Pulling myself up by your psychological bootstraps is not enough. Talking myself into optimism is not enough.
The way to stay enthusiastic for a lifetime is found in the word “enthusiasm,” which comes from the Greek word en theos. En is the Greek word for “in.” Theos is the Greek word for “God.” So en theos means to be “in God.”
When I’m ”in God”, I will be enthusiastic. It’s the kind of enthusiasm that isn’t affected by the economy or the weather or my circumstances. It’s eternal, because I am tied to the eternal God. You are in Christ.
Paul tells me how to be “in God”—enthusiastic—in Romans 12:11-12: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (NIV).
If I want to reach my goals, I need to get God-given enthusiasm by being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
Start by praying this prayer today: “Dear God, I don’t want to go another day without you in my life, controlling every part of my heart. I dedicate myself to you. I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you as a spiritual act of worship”.
“I humbly admit that I need help. I want you to renew my mind, so I can think the way you want me to think—with the mind of Christ. Please forgive me for my pride. I don’t want to think more highly of myself than I should. My faith needs to grow, and I need your help to set goals that can be measured so I can manage them. Forgive me for trying to change on my own.”
“I want to fill my life with love. I want to fill my life with you. Help me to take delight in honoring other people and to focus on giving my life away so that you can take care of my needs. I want to nurture my enthusiasm by being “in you”. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
In summary, In order to reach my goals, I have to figure out how to maintain my enthusiasm over the long haul, or I’m never going to make it to the finish line. So how do I stay enthusiastic day after day in spite of delays, difficulties, dead ends, problems, pressures, and criticisms? Positive thinking is not enough. Pulling myself up by my psychological bootstraps is not enough. Talking myself into optimism is not enough. The way to stay enthusiastic for a lifetime is found in the word “enthusiasm,” which comes from the Greek word en theos. En is the Greek word for “in.” Theos is the Greek word for “God.” So en theos means to be “in God.” When I’m ”in God”, I will be enthusiastic. It’s the kind of enthusiasm that isn’t affected by the economy or the weather or my circumstances. It’s eternal, because I am tied to the eternal God. Paul tells me how to be “in God”, Keep your spiritual fervor, and serve the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”. I need to get God-given enthusiasm by being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
Start by praying this “God, I don’t want to go another day without you in my life, controlling every part of my heart. I dedicate myself to you. I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you as a spiritual act of worship. I humbly admit that I need help. I want you to renew my mind, so I can think the way you want me to think. Please forgive me for my pride. I don’t want to think more highly of myself than I should. I need your help to set goals that can be measured so I can manage them. Forgive me for trying to change on my own. I want to fill my life with love. I want to fill my life with you. Help me to take delight in honoring others and to focus on giving my life away so that you can take care of my needs. Nurture my enthusiasm by being “in you”. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
So don’t burn out; learn to keep myself fueled and aflame. Be an alert servant of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
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