A Prayer To Find Energy and Enthusiasm Again

 Living through these many months of the pandemic has been challenging for all of us hasn’t it?  Sometimes we feel joy in the journey and other times we don’t seem to feel anything at all. 

I think sometimes during this pandemic we’ve had lots of time – maybe more time than we needed to look at our feelings and assess how we were feeling on any day, in reaction to this news item or that.  We’ve had difficulties and challenges to face, the mundane and the same old, same old for many months at a time.  In the middle of different rhythms of life and limited social contact with others the self-esteem of a number of people has suffered, it seems and many people feel uncomfortable, even distressed. 

And  no matter who we are and how well we’ve weathered these months, if we’re honest, sometimes we just get tired of dealing with it all.  How can we find the strength we need to feel joy and enthusiasm for daily life as we find it today – not just when this pandemic is resolved? 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  Colossians 3:23, 2 Timothy 2:15

Particularly when our emotions are a challenge it’s helpful to be able to lean back on God’s promise to be with us and get us through what we are facing.  If we will ask God for help and do what we can with as much enthusiasm as we can, we can expect God to help us through one more day.  We may not see the finish line, but we can have the satisfaction of living well one more day.

The Lord your God will fight alongside you and help you win the battle.” Deuteronomy 20:4 

Part of finding enthusiasm again comes from seeing the progress made on a long and sometimes difficult journey.  Some of our discouragement and lack of enthusiasm in a day may come from only having long-term goals that take time to reach.  It’s why the “progress not perfection” principle is so powerful .  We need to set goals for one hour or one day or one activity and give thanks as we accomplish them.  We need to find the gifts of what we have rather than what we don’t have, what we can do rather than what we can’t do and trust God to open up more and more for us going forward.

Some other small but effective tools that renew our spirits and foster energy and enthusiasm include practicing gratitude, taking time to find beauty in nature, listening to praise music, or trying something new and intentionally speak with sincerity and genuineness about it.  If we do these things, joy and enthusiasm will catch up to us again.

Heavenly Father, Help us to find rest and joy as we go through this tough part of our pandemic journey.  Help us to lean on You and remember that You are always with us.  Thank You for supporting us through one more successful day. 

(don’t read) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15 

So Lord, we’re going to leave tomorrow and next week and post pandemic with you.  Today, with all we have, we are going to give ourselves to You and be a person You can approve, a faithful worker for You who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling Your truth and all the opportunities and responsibilities You give us.

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,  Ephesians 6:7

We will give the best service to everyone we can today with the best attitude we can, in a spirit of loving gratitude to You, Lord.  Fill us with the power of Your Holy Spirit, with energy and joy and enthusiasm once again.  We need it.  We receive it.  We will live it out in Your presence today.  Amen

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24