by: Jason Williams
Yesterday was cold!
I mean downright nasty cold!
My wife had taken some girls dress shopping, and since I am not an expert on girls dresses I was left to fend for myself at an outdoor mall. I sprinted from store to store trying my best to stay warm until I found a place that took pity on me and gave me some coffee, but nothing seemed to work, so I shuffled around cursing Al Gore and waiting for them to save me. I was just so cold!
After what seemed like hours, they found the perfect dress and we made it home. It’s amazing how different things are when you are home. Soon we were gathered around talking and laughing while some logs crackled in our fireplace, and all that was cold was forgotten. We were happy, warm and content, and I was apologizing to God for cursing Al Gore.
Sometimes our spiritual lives are just like this recent polar vortex. As a pastor, writer and teacher, it’s tough to admit, but I often get spiritually cold. I mean downright nasty cold! The type of cold where I don’t even want to talk to Jesus much less His followers. It’s my own personal polar vortex.
I think most of us face this as we go through the ups and downs of life. We go from loving God to being out in the cold trying our hardest to thaw ourselves out.
So what do we do? How do we handle our own personal polar vortex?
1. GO HOME
By home I mean, back to the basics. It’s amazing how quickly we can change when we get back to reading Psalms, Proverbs or Matthew. Or, when we look back at the wonderful story of our salvation. Often when I am cold I simply take a look back at how Jesus changed my life and what He has done for me and soon I am changed.
2. GET CLOSE TO FAMILY
The truth is I felt the most cold when I was alone. As soon as our little family was all back together again sitting around the fire everything changed. This is the exact opposite of what most of us do spiritually. We get hurt or cold, and suddenly we want nothing to do with other Christians. Families can be messed up (especially church families). But there is just something about family that warms the heart.
3. LAUGH
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” Laughter will do miracles for you when you are spiritually or physically cold.
Are you spiritually cold?
Jason Williams
Assistant Pastor
High Street Baptist Church
Columbus, OH
churchonhigh.wordpress.com