Philippians 3:14
14 I press on toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Every time I see this verse, I put it with verse 13, which talks about forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. But I think there is something we’re missing in the principle of pressing on.
We so often think of pressing on only in terms of getting through really tough times. But there is one thing that gets us sometimes that we don’t even recognize – and that’s monotony. Do you live a rather regular, mundane, routine life? This doesn’t necessarily speak to inactivity, but of meaninglessness.
How do you feel about your daily activity? Are you in a rut? Do you feel like every day is just more of the same? That’s not the attitude that God wants for you!
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
10 Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all your might; …
Colossians 3:17
17 Whatever you do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through Him to God the Father.
We find ourselves in boredom and monotony not because we don’t have anything to do, but because we don’t see any meaning in what it is we’re doing. You might think that doing the little things on a continual and faithful basis is a small thing, but God doesn’t!
Remember what Jesus taught about the little things?
Matthew 25:21
21 "His master
said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a
few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your
master.'
When you find yourself in a monotonous routine, feeling that your activities are meaningless, the first place to look is up. When you realize that He is in control of our destiny, and that He has always known even the little problems we would have, it gives you a different set of values looking forward.
He is in complete charge:
Psalms 103:19
19 The LORD has
established His throne in the heavens,
And His
sovereignty rules over all.
He controls what happens to us:
1 Thessalonians 3:3
3 so that no one would
be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been
destined for this.
There is one Psalm that is attributed to Moses. When we think about his life, we think only
about
I particularly like Moses’ conclusion.
Psalms 90:12-17
12 So teach us to
number our days,
That we may present
to You a heart of wisdom.
Meaning that even in days of boredom and repetition, we may grow in wisdom! Here’s a great paraphrase of this verse:
“Cause us to invest our days that we may gain before You the ability to see life as You see it.” That’s the wisdom we need!
“Cause me to see, Lord, that when I do the routine things of life, that You have a meaning far beyond what I can see in it.”
That’s how to get a right perspective on the dull and boring things of life. God has planned them for you, and He has a purpose in them far beyond what you can see in them now. No matter WHAT you do, here is the attitude to have:
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do,
do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
24 knowing that from
the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord
Christ whom you serve.
Look at every day as a new adventure. Even if you think it’s just another boring day, God has something great in store for you:
Lamentations 3:22
22 The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions
never fail.
23 They are new
every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.