Have you lost the thrill?
Have you lost the thrill? What in your life thrills you? All of us have had things come and go in our lives that thrilled us. Catching your first fish, learning to ride a bike, graduating from high school or college, your wedding day, the birth of your first grandchild. I could go on and on but I want you to consider one other thing. Have you lost the thrill you had on the day you became a Christian? The day you knew for a fact that your sins were forgiven by Jesus Christ. The day you realized that the story of His life, death, burial, and resurrection were true and that you were a part of that story.
The statement "Have you lost your thrill of Jesus?" is a question about whether you have lost the initial excitement and joy you felt upon becoming a Christian. For many the reason the thrill wore off and there was decline in faith, is we’ve lost our enthusiasm, and sense of purpose in following Jesus. Trust me, we have all had this happen at one time or another in our pursuit of Jesus.
Look for moment at a more detailed explanation of how this loss of the thrill happens.
At the beginning of our relationship with Jesus there is a natural initial enthusiasm that comes over us. When we first experience salvation or conversion, we often feel a strong sense of joy and excitement, a "thrill" of being connected with Jesus and His teachings. But then life sets in and we often lose the thrill as days and years go on. Sadly many never regain the thrill
Our initial enthusiasm can sometimes fade over time due to various factors, including:
• Waning Focus: Life's daily challenges and responsibilities can distract us from the initial passion for our faith. Often times as these responsibilities and distractions continue to weigh on us our faith is weakened. Sometimes to the point that we don’t even consider Jesus in our daily life.
• Sin and Unforgiveness: Failing to confess sins and seek forgiveness can lead to a hardening of the heart and a loss of the joy of salvation. Sin and unforgiveness can eat you alive and wreak havoc on your life in many ways. Often times these two things cause anger and bitterness to a point that all we can see is what others are doing instead taking a hard look at our own hearts and seeking the love and forgiveness that only Jesus can provide.
• Spiritual Darkness: Periods of spiritual dryness or doubt can make it difficult to feel the "thrill" of faith. When these periods come in our life the first thing we do is start ignoring the Bible and avoiding fellowship with other believers. This only adds to our dryness and waning focus.
• Lack of Devotion: Not making time for prayer, Bible study, and other spiritual practices can weaken the connection with Jesus. If you want to know someone better you have to spend time with them and their friends. The Christian life is built on this principle. You get to know Jesus better through prayer, Bible study, and being around like minded believers in Jesus Christ.
• Ingratitude: An unthankful spirit can lead to a focus on needs rather than blessings, diminishing the joy of faith. Over and over again the Bible tells us to be thankful in all things. I find that when I can find just a thread of thankfulness in the worst situations that the Lord can bring me joy and hope. Often times when I focus on thankfulness I begin to sing hymns and spiritual songs that have meant a lot to me because of one or two lines within those hymns and songs. God more often though brings to mind scriptures I have read and memorized over the years that are meant to be reminders to me of the “joy of my salvation”.
So when these times come what can we do? How can we regain that initial thrill we had of knowing Jesus?
Recovering our initial enthusiasm can be achieved through:
• Refocusing on the Gospel: Renewing one's understanding of Jesus' sacrifice and the grace offered through Him. Taking time to refamiliarize ourselves with Jesus and what the gospels tell us about Him. Three or four times a year I like to take a week and just focus on reading through the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and get reacquainted with the Savior.
• Confessing Sins: Honest confession and seeking forgiveness can restore a clean heart and renew the joy of salvation. Whenever I know I am struggling with sin in my life I reflect on the book of Romans. This brings me refocus and reminds that I have to think of my sin as being just as bad as the Bible says it is. Often times we like to justify our sins instead of accepting the fact that sin is sin and it needs to be dealt with.
• Worship and Reverence: Participating in worship services, singing songs of praise, and engaging in reverent Bible study can help rekindle the flame of faith. One of my favorite things to is go to the mountains near my home. And one of my favorite things to do there is take my Bible and a hymnal. There I read the words of the Bible out loud and sing hymns of praise at the top of my lungs. How refreshing. Its just me, my God, and His amazing creation in full splendor.
• Sharing the Gospel: Sharing one's faith with others can remind you of the joy of being saved and help rekindle the thrill. Have your ever shared the gospel with anyone? Have you ever shared your story of how Jesus rescued you from the clutches of Satan? Do it! I dare you. After you have done it once it becomes easier and easier. Don’t be scared. What’s the worst thing that can happen? They call you crazy. As the apostle Paul said to Festus, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.”
Trust in God: Even when things are difficult, trusting in God's plan and His unwavering love can provide comfort and renewed hope. There is no other plan. The plans of men will always fail and we all know from experience that our personal plans are usually what got us into difficulty anyway.
Don’t ever lose your wonder for Jesus. Treasure Him above all things and look at him with awe and wonder.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. –Psalm 16:11
