I’m losing my enthusiasm
Question:
First of all, I want to say thank you for your hard work and dedication to your church and the website. I recently discovered your website, and I enjoy reading the questions and your answers.
I've been a Christian for a long time. I've been a member of various churches of Christ in different cities. The problem that I have is that I have been in and out of the church many times. The longest time was for about 25 years, when I decided to become a drug addict and alcoholic. I don't know many people who have decided to do that, and I may not have said consciously that's what I wanted to do, but that's what I ended up doing. Now, with the help of my Savior Jesus Christ, I have been able to stay away from alcohol and drugs for the last 30 years. I am serving the Lord as the song leader.
The problem that I find I am having now is the lack of enthusiasm that I see happening with me. There are a lot of times when I put off picking the songs until the last possible moment (like Sunday morning, right before I leave for church). There have also been a few times when I didn't want to go to church, but I did anyway and had a great time.
I know that God wants us to put Him first in everything we do. I also know that if I keep on going the way that I have been going, I will eventually stop worshiping and fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. As a recovering alcoholic and addict, I know that it is a very bad thing that could lead me to places that I don't want to go again. I am very grateful to God for getting me sober, and I am going to try my best to stay sober. After all, who am I to undo what God has done for me?
My question is, how can I be more enthusiastic about going to church and worshipping the very God who opened my eyes? It is because of Him that I am who I am today. It is because I prayed and asked Him for help in changing my life.
How do I give Him more of me?
Thank you for your time.
Answer:
It is a rare person who can maintain a high level of enthusiasm for a long period of time. I enjoyed the various jobs that I've had over my life, but there were times when I had to make myself go because I just didn't feel like working that day. If we understand that these things happen in secular work, then it should not be surprising to see them happening in our spiritual lives.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Consider what the writer of Hebrews offers:
- How reliable is God and His offer of eternal life to us? "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil" (Hebrews 6:17-19). If our Lord is that reliable, should not His children also demonstrate dedication to Him? It should not matter what I feel at the moment -- those feelings will eventually change. What matters is that I have a chosen purpose.
- Often, we spiral by focusing inward. Consider the low point in Elijah's life (I Kings 19). What was on his mind? "I'm the only one left." What was God's answer? "I have tasks for you to do." Instead of seeing attendance at church as an obligation, realize that this is an opportunity to give back to God by encouraging others to be faithful. In helping others, you will help yourself.
- Remember where you are going and the fact that you have limited time. Every day, I have less time left on earth. There are things I need to fix about myself, and there are people I would like to help so that they can reach heaven. I don't have time to waste.
Decisions, then, are made with your reason and not with your feelings. Good decisions will eventually lead to good feelings. Still, understand that every day won't be wonderful. There will be hard times. There will be boring times. Whatever I face, I can grow into a better servant of God.
By the way, when selecting songs, ask the speaker what his topic is the day before. Then come up with a list of songs and an order that teaches a message on that same topic (or a similar one). Challenge yourself to get a flow of ideas that sets the mode for everyone to worship together. Learn more songs so you have more to work with. Also, teach others new songs and encourage young men to learn to lead singing.
