Regardless of how intelligent or talented you are, everyone goes through periods of slumps, where you are not as productive as usual. The baseball player can’t get buy a hit. The running back can’t seem to hold on to the ball anymore. The jump shooter turns into a brick layer and the goalie treats each opponent like its Christmas. Likewise, the doctor struggles to diagnose a cold, the engineer wrestles to find a quick solution and the teacher babbles away period after period. When these circumstances find you, what’s the missing answer, ingredient or piece to your dilemma?
Deep within the pages of the Bible, I think I have unearthed a principle that might just be the missing link. In Acts 16:22-24, Paul, Silas and Luke find themselves in an awkward predicament, imprisoned for freeing a slave girl. Instead of arguing, bickering and complaining, somehow they are led to fulfill the words of Psalm 150. Embracing their situation, Paul and Silas begin a worship service in prison. This spirit of praise moves God to unleash a violent earthquake, likely 6.0 or higher on the Richter scale. This natural disaster opens a door for ministry, setting the scene for a spiritual breakthrough.
From a personal perspective, I think I have become too worldly to experience a Pauline like miracle. However, if I dedicated myself to fasting, prayer and worship, opportunities to share my faith would be plentiful. Like losing weight, the only remaining question is, do you have the discipline and will power to change. The apostle Paul went to extreme measures to insure a Christ-like behavior in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Therefore, if a slump resides in your soul, struggling to find meaning and purpose in life, why not apply Psalm 150:6. Maybe this is the only thing preventing you from getting over the hump. May this be the last piece you are searching for.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 