I’ve been in a real slump. I know I need to get back into God’s word I’m struggling finding inspiration even after praying for it. I read the Bible of course in Church but a I can’t seem to find the motivation to pick it up while I’m at home. Anyone have similar problems and if so what have you done to get out of it? TIA
It's likely we've all had this problem (so join the club
).
Let me suggest a holistic approach:
develop all spiritual disciplines together.
Prayer
Bible Reading
Fellowship (beginning but not limited to weekly worship meeting)
Giving (not the same as tithing)
Service
Evangelism
Teaching
Those are the basic categories. Prayer, of course, involves supplication, intercession,
listening, gratitude, and worship. Bible reading includes meditation, contemplation, exegetical study, etc. Fellowship involved Sunday worship services but also small group fellowship, men's/women's groups, accountability or same-sex confidante relationships, and just having a cup of joe with the guys while knocking little different-colored spheres into holes in a table. These things overlap. Giving of time, talent, and treasure generously, cheerfully, based on real need and/or God's leading easily bleeds into serving others in various ways inside and outside of the local body. Evangelism need not involve preaching; it is as simple as leading an exemplary life that it itself becomes the basis of an inquiry, "
Why do you do what you do?" and, of course, the answer is, "
Jesus; I am a Christian and I did that because I try to live my life in such a manner that my faith in God influences all aspects of my life in a positive way....." And, lastly, everyone of us should constantly be learning from those who have walked the faith before us, growing in unity, maturity, and Christlikeness (Eph. 4) as we sharpen one another in peer relationships to the point where we can eventually pour our learning into the lives of those who follow us.
And along the way we deal with doubt, malaise, guilt/shame, remorse, joy, legalism, hypocrisy, and the the other parts of our faith so diversely encountered by those in the Bible.
The key to faith is to simply
believe. There is no "I can't do that," because of course you can. You may not believe what you believe but no matter how severe the doubt you can say, "
I do not care what the latest antitheist says, I am going to believe God exists and Jesus is His resurrected Son through whom I have eternal salvation." That's the beauty of Christ; it is a function of the Spirit-empowered
will, and no one makes me not will but me.
The spiritual disciplines can be diagnostic. For example, those who read their Bibles but don't much pray tend toward legalism, especially if what they're reading is the OT prophets
. Conversely, those who pray alot but don't read their Bibles lack the grounding of the unchanging word the Spirit will never contradict and they tend toward flightiness and fantastical experience over intellectual rigor. Those who never serve invariably have a selfish faith that can breed a lack of compassion and those who never share their faith may succumb to not knowing why they believe, think, and act as they do.
So don't think of the problem as just a lack of Bible reading.
Get connected, share your thoughts and feelings with someone you can look in the eye and who can do something with you about it. God is a God of relationship. He exists inherently already-in-relationship and we are created in His image. Even if you suddenly regained your energy and inspiration reading God's word it doesn't do you or any of us any good if it only stays at home inside the four walls of your skull.
Consider reading something written by another that will get you back to reading scripture. Here's a few suggestions:
The Francis Schaeffer
trilogy. Personally, in addition to the Bible I think this is a book
every Christian should read. It will help you understand Christianity has enormous intellectual integrity and help develop a Christian worldview applicable to all areas of life.
"
The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller. It's a small book with lots of humbling and motivating content about our sense of entitlement.
"
Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Written while he was living underground prior to his arrest and imprisonment I think it's the best of the "big three" written by Bonhoeffer. It's also a small but powerful read. Had me contemplating its content in profoundly life-changing ways for months and months.
Since you're a guy I'll suggest a pair of books written for men: "
Healing the Masculine Soul," by Gordon Dalbey, and "
Samson and the Pirate Monks," by Nate Larkin.
And, lastly, since you're Baptist, I'll recommend "
Understanding Four Views on Baptism," edited by Paul Engle from Zondervan's Counterpoint Series. If you read this with your Bible in the other hand, prayerfully looking up the scriptural claims of the various authors you can practice several of the spiritual disciplines at once.
