It happened to me! I noticed that life was just ordinary. I knew I was just going through the motions.

Putting on a happy face for my family and close friends. Posting about the good stuff on Facebook (heaven forbid if I ever let anyone know what’s really going on). And doing what I have to do, what I’m supposed to do.

Where was the passion once driving me? How did the light go out? What happened to my energy and enthusiasm?

I wasn’t sick. And not in a storm. There was’t even a life circumstance weighing me down.

I just didn’t feel much of anything.

Life had become mundane. Routine. Ordinary. Joyless.

I know you’ve been there too. We don’t plan it. It just happens. Obviously, this can be brought on by something external, like a health issue, a chemical imbalance, an unforeseen circumstance, or stress.

Or we can bring it on by our own bad choices.

But no matter how you got here, I know you don’t like it any more than I like it. We want to enjoy life and be led with passion and enthusiasm.

As I pondered this scenario, God reminded me of four ways we can conquer a mundane lifestyle:

1. Feed your soul!

What do we do for physical energy? We feed our bodies with healthy food and exercise. We breathe in fresh air. A nice walk can refresh our bodies.

It’s the same in the spiritual realm.

If we want to get unstuck and get our passion back, one sure way is to feed our bodies with nourishment from God’s Word. Breathe in the sweet aroma of truth.

I love these words: “The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul…The commandments of the LORD are right bringing joy to the heart…They are sweeter than honey, even honey from the comb” (Psalm 19:7-10).

Did you catch that the Word of God revives the soul and brings joy to the heart? Honey is sweet, but God’s Word is sweeter, tastier. 

Today I will refresh my spirit by feasting on the one sure thing that can revive me – the Word spoken directly from my Father’s lips. I hope you’ll do the same.

2. Praise Jesus!

When Paul and Silas were in Philippi (Acts 16), they were arrested, severely beaten, and thrown into prison shackled by the ankles. We cannot comprehend even a little the pain they endured at the hands of their enemies. The Bible says that they were severely beaten. That word speaks for itself.

Given their horrible ordeal, they could have spread negativity in the jailhouse and shook their fists at God. But they didn’t do that at all. This is what we read: “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening” (Acts 16:25).  

When we worship God and praise Him for who He is, everyone is blessed. That night, an earthquake shook the jailhouse and all the doors flew open. Rather than lose his life, the jailer (and his household) came to know Jesus. 

Imagine how that revived these two servant’s hearts. You and I can be delivered from a blah day just by praising Jesus. Do I hear an Amen?

3. Take time for yourself!

This third point is so important. We have a tendency to put others’ needs above our own (and rightly so), that we often do not take time for ourselves. 

We have a condo at the beach (where I am right now), and sometimes I will come here all by myself to pray, seek God, fast, and listen to Him speak. I always come back home refreshed and renewed. 

If you can get away someplace by yourself for a couple days, that’s great. But if you can’t, then I would suggest you get a babysitter (if you have young children) for the afternoon, and go to the park (or somewhere quiet) and just be by yourself. Even if it’s only for a couple hours. 

Jesus was the busiest person to ever live on this earth. He was always in demand. People flocked to Him. John tells us at the end of his gospel that Jesus did many other things that are not recorded for us. In fact, he says that the whole world couldn’t contain the books that would be written about Jesus’ works (John 21:25).

In other words, Jesus was very busy. But, He always took time for Himself – to be alone with His Father. Something tells me that Jesus needed refreshment as much as we do.

So, I want you to find a time and place for yourself. I guarantee it will be just what you need to find passion again. 

Try something new!

Life can seem very ordinary and routine if we do the same things over and over again. I’ve never worked on an assembly line, but I would think that doing that job for very long would become somewhat boring. Some things in our life we cannot change – they are the same day in and day out.

So, we need to do something new. Like take a drive to a different place, go a different way on your walk (I’m going to do this), try a new recipe, invite someone new to your house or out to lunch… etc. 

There are so many things before us. Sometimes it just takes a leap to change things up a bit.

I hope today’s post encourages you, especially if you find that life has become mundane. Please pass it along so others can benefit from it as well. 

Have a blessed week,