Getting Out of a Spiritual Rut

Humans are naturally predisposed to sin. Therefore, it can be so tempting for us to turn to worldly sources to seek validation for our identity. When we do this, it may seem like God is more distant from us. However, this is simply not true. 

You may have heard the saying that God’s faithfulness runs through all generations. This means that He has never left us and never will leave us. On the flip side, we are actually the ones straying away from God like the prodigal son left his father in the gospel of Luke (Luke 15:11-32). Our Everlasting Father is always here with open arms waiting for our return, and although He may seem silent at times, it is important to understand that He is never absent.

Satan is here to distract us from returning to our relationship with Christ. His entire mission is essentially to tear us away from Jesus by drawing us closer to sin. Satan is actually referred to as The Accuser so the first step to getting out of a spiritual rut is to be aware of the lies and spiritual attacks that the Devil may be feeding us. This can be in the form of thoughts like “you’ve already sinned, so God doesn’t care anymore” or “you aren’t worthy of salvation”. Once we are aware of this, it is of the utmost importance that we are intentional about not letting these lies affect how we treat our spiritual journey.

Intentionality is ultimately the key to keeping a healthy spiritual relationship with Jesus. Living in a world shrouded by lies and temptation means that as Christians, we must be intentional about everything we do. From the thoughts we have, to the words we speak, to the actions we take, God calls us to do everything for His glory. This may look different for everyone, but there are certain steps that can be taken to make this process easier. 

There are a multitude of ways that God speaks to us. One is through Scripture. The God-breathed Word is a love letter to His children, us. Spending quality time to read the Bible on a regular basis is so important in understanding who God truly is and how He has called us to live out our lives. One common mistake that occurs when reading Scripture however, is to read it just for the sake of doing so. Again, this goes back to our lack of intentionality. When we read the Bible, it is vital for us to do it with the intention of understanding it and faithfully applying it to our everyday lives.

That’s not to say that Scripture is easy to understand. Where do I start? How do I understand how to contextualize everything in the Bible? One recommendation I have for those who are struggling with this is to invest in a good devotional book. The one that I am currently reading through is called New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp (which I highly recommend!) but there are many great devotional plans that can be found on the Bible app on your own phone as well.

Another way God speaks to us is through prayer. Prayer is very often viewed as a one way communication with God, but in reality, it’s meant to be an open dialogue between us and the Divine. You see, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He tore the veil that separated us from God by bringing in the Holy Spirit. That’s why when things arise in our lives or in Scripture that we don’t understand fully, we can ask God. When we stray from God, we can ask Him for His mercy and grace to extend into our lives. When we are grappling with anxiety, we can ask God for guidance. When we struggle in our relationships, we can seek God for peace and wisdom. Bring God into your lives holistically. Every aspect of your life should be completely immersed with God’s presence. 

Every Christian has been through a spiritual rut at one point or another, but it is what we do with that that truly determines where our journey with Christ is headed. Our Father is waiting. Will you return?