In A Rut?

I've been studying the book of Ecclesiastes for a couple of weeks now. Though, I taught this class several years ago, I have been learning a whole lot more! It amazes me that I have overlooked a couple of things regarding Solomon's struggles finding the purpose of life.

All of us will always have days that we feel like we're in a rut! Especially in His church, there are days where I have the "spiritual blues"! I just hate it but it's something that we will never avoid! And this doesn't give us an excuse not to do the Lord's will!

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done." (Ecclesiastes 11:4, LB)

It's easy to get stuck in a rut in ministry – same place – same thing – same responsibility - same message - almost the same people - same problems.

But settling into a rut is dangerous. Someone used to say, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!"

What does it take to get you moving? There are three common motivators:

PAIN: Often it's not "seeing the light" that gets us going, but "feeling the heat.” You delay the dentist appointment until the pain is unbearable. Have you been there before? Ouch!

PRESSURE: When the doctor says "Lose 50 pounds or die," or the boss says "Improve performance or be fired," that pressure will motivate you to make a change. The problem with pressure as a motivator is that it doesn't last. And people who resist the pressure from their peers or families often becomes stuck in a rut! They become frustrated! So when the pressure subsides, so does your motivation. There is a better motivator.

PERSPECTIVE: When you see the big picture, or when you're inspired by a challenging vision or purpose, you've found the best motivator of all – perspective. But when you lack perspective of things that may be both good and bad, you realize that you’re wasting your potential.

In Ecclesiastes, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done." (Ecclesiastes 11:4, LB)

WANT TO GET OUT OF THE RUT?

Here are four things that may help you "ROT THE RUT"!

1. ASSUME responsibility for your own life. Refuse to be either an excuser (rationalize failure) or an accuser (blame others). Instead, be a chooser, and choose to break out of the rut you're in or accept the rut when you cannot give an excuse or accuse others.

2. BELIEVE you can change! Stop saying "I can't", "What do you expect me to do?", "Is it my fault that I am in this rut?" and start saying "I can."

3. CLARIFY what you really want. Write down specifically how you'd like to change. Avoid the "I can't" self-pity. You, very well, ought to know that Satan want you to feel sorry for yourself and lure others to give attention to you.

4. DON'T WAIT for ideal circumstances; i.e. Ecc. 11:4. Stop saying "When things settle down ....” Do it now! "One of these days" is really none of these days.

AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER LIKE THIS: "God, help me to do something differently this week and to do it better. Give me your strength to change."

After you have said a prayer, it doesn't mean that your "rutness" will go away immediately. Remember the #1, assume responsibility for your own life! Start there and gradually work your way down through #4. If nothing happens, then go back to #1 without an excuse, giving accusations and making the right choice!