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1 Kings 19:10 - He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." NASU
I would imagine that we all have been zealous or passionate about something in our lifetime and then something happened and we lost our zeal.
People will start down what would appear to be a great career and in a few years they are no longer producing like they did when they started with the company. Look at all the marriages that begin filled with love and passion and then end up in a divorce court. I know athletes who were passionate about their sport and they get an injury and quit rather than spending the necessary time to recuperate, refocus and refuel their desire to enter back into the competition.
They lose their focus on what it was that caused them to be passionate in the first place. Howard Thurman said, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Many times when we lose our passion it has to do with what we are looking at. We have lost our focus. We are no longer looking to God. We are looking at people and what they are doing or not doing and complaining about it. Elijah forgot to remember what God had recently done with and for him. God had sent down fire from heaven and consumed the altar and the offering that was on it in answer to Elijah's prayer. All the people started glorifying Elijah's God by confessing that He was the LORD and they killed all the false prophets of Baal. Elijah had forgotten this great victory. Have you forgotten how God has helped you?
Sometimes we need to get away. We need some down time. We must refill our physical, mental and spiritual reservoirs. We need to recharge our batteries by getting a fresh vision of God. If your passion needs restored today open your eyes and see what God has done with you and what He wants to do with you right now. E. M. Forster said, "One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested." You're that one person with passion. You're better than forty people merely interested. Now turn your passion lose on the world with God's guidance and watch out. Think On These: Purpose may point you in the right direction, but it's passion that propels you. - Travis McAshan Giving it another try is better than an alibi. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
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Jeremiah 15:10 - "Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land!" NASU
Right before Jeremiah pronounced a "woe" upon himself for being born, God had told him to go and tell the Israelites that judgment was about to come upon them from God. Needless to say, obeying this command made Jeremiah very unpopular with the Israelites. He was telling everyone they were going to be in captivity for 70 years. This type of preaching (aka- Doom and Gloom) was very unpopular with the Israelites. The false prophets were saying, "No, we are only going to be in captivity for two years." Guess who the people believed? They not only believed the false prophets' message, but they hated Jeremiah for telling them the truth.
Even with this special calling from God Jeremiah was wishing that he had never been born. When you are chosen by God that doesn't mean everything will be easy. There may be some days in your life when you wished you were never born. Let me encourage you by saying, "A lot of God's special people have wished they were never born". You may not like what you have to do at your job. Hang in there. Stay the course. God has you there for a reason and never believe that if God has you there the journey will be easy.
The saying, spoken with a true Italian accent, was, "I'va gotta newsa for you." Well, Pump Up Readers, "I'va gotta newsa for you." If you have ever wished you were dead or wished you had never been born you are standing in good company. Job and Jeremiah both great men of God wished for those same things. God used both of them in mighty ways and I am sure he is using you in mighty ways also. Stay the Course and Stay Pumped. Think On This: All men need a faith that will not shrink when washed in the waters of affliction and adversity. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Job 3:11 - " Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire? NASU
He lost all of his children (7 sons and 3 daughters) in one day along with all of his livestock and many of his servants. (Job 1:3 - His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys,…). In one disaster it is explained this way: Job 1:16 - "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them,…" NASU The devil made his attack on Job appear as though it was coming from God. If you want to talk about people who have lost all of their wealth, then Job's name once again would be able to enter into the discussion. There were no insurance policies to help him recover any of his losses. There wasn't going to be a filing of bankruptcy papers to help ease some of his financial pain. After all of the above sufferings came his way next his own health was taken from him.
Maybe some of you who are reading my Pump Ups have been going through your own share of sufferings. You might have cried out these same words, "I wish I were dead or I wish I had never been born." Please trust me when I say, "God knows what you are going through and He is able to help you recover from your sufferings." Let me encourage you to remain faithful to God as Job did. When you read the last chapter of Job this is what you will find. Job 42:10 - "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold." 12-13 - "The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had seven sons and three daughters." NASU Think On These: When God allows a burden to be put upon you, He will put His arms underneath you to help you carry it. The Lord calls for us to stand, though not always to understand. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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