Losing motivation

[dms1972]

I had been feeling a bit more motivated of late, but losing it again. Discouraged. Don't know why.

Events in the world leave me depressed if I think too much on them. Particularly being too informed I think makes prayer difficult. I'd rather not know everything that goes on so I don't bother following much news.

I draw comfort from the Psalms mainly. But I wouldn't be so depressed if I had a one or two meaningful relationships. Not looking for someone to complain about life to, God knows, just companionship, with people I am not too distance from in interests / outlook.

How do you keep going?

 

[Criada]

God made us to be in fellowship with others, so your desire for relationships is understandable. Loneliness is a huge contributor to depression.
I don't know your circumstances, but if you can go to places/activities where you are likely to meet people with similar interests it helps.
Even talking to people online helps a lot - and I find that trying to encourage others who are struggling helps to get my focus off myself.

Praying for you, brother.

 

[dms1972]

Thanks, I do pray for others regularly (who ask for my prayers - however I can't pray in faith on demand I need to say too). And I go to places that are community oriented. If I can speak or write something to encourage by God's grace I do. Anyway thanks for your considerate reply, and prayer - I do sense a little more peace of mind last night. Nothing to do but keep going: crawl by faith, till I can take bigger steps again

 

[saved24]

Praying for you. God bless and keep you.

 

[dms1972]

Thank you. I do sense more peace of mind over the last couple of days. Sometimes interupted by patterns of thought that still need dealt with. I don't feel so much striving. I think what I was battling at times was what I was reading and feeling worn down intellectually and feeling mentally exhausted / depleted being viligiant all the time in my thinking. Some of the negativity has gone out of my thinking. What was most draining is feelings and thoughts of responsibility - not proper responsibility but always feeling no closure to questions of what I have been responsible for.

I wanted to ask about something. If someone is mature in and well versed in the scriptures, and God's way. I'd appreciate being able to PM. It takes me some time to identify what an underlying issue really is.

 

[TimAM]

I know how you feel. All the bad news in the world can start to wear on a person. I'm struggling with loneliness as well.

 

[dms1972]

Thanks brother for your kind word.

One thing I have found helpful was this: I'd forgotten I had it bookmarked and then I came across it again. It really sums up my attitude. I don't want to be indifferent (but too much news makes one just that), and honestly the pessisism amongst some christians (for i have battled that in myself too) saddens me.

It was these couple of quotes from Jacques Ellul that give me some sense of proportion.

"This Christian who brings the world into the Church is also a man who, like everyone else, is up-to-the-minute. He has undergone that bias of modern man...(which) causes him to be interested in only the latest news. Moreover, he forgets it as soon as something else comes along. In consequence of this up-to-the-minute attitude, he no longer exhibits any interest in the eternal, in that which endures, in the reading of the Bible, which at least we must by all means apply to present day "problems", otherwise he cannot see what good it is."

"That does not mean that we are to be indifferent to the sufferings of mankind. But it does mean that my only actual concern is the one which is near enough to me, and close enough to my size, so I might really do something about it. Revelation, in its rigorous realism, doesn't ask us to torture ourselves over universal ideas and information, nor to lose sleep over news items from everywhere."

 

[dms1972]

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[Restoresmysoul]

I don't get involved with the news or politics anymore, these things are depressing. Paul teaches us to think about good things and truthful things but in my opinion the news and politics are full of lies and distortions. Sometimes I feel unmotivated and I also feel things like fear, anxiety and many other things. When this happens I pray and then I wait on God, its the only way that I have found to deal with these feelings.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

God made us to be in fellowship with others, so your desire for relationships is understandable. Loneliness is a huge contributor to depression.
I don't know your circumstances, but if you can go to places/activities where you are likely to meet people with similar interests it helps.
Even talking to people online helps a lot - and I find that trying to encourage others who are struggling helps to get my focus off myself.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[ToBeBlessed]

I don't get involved with the news or politics anymore, these things are depressing. Paul teaches us to think about good things and truthful things but in my opinion the news and politics are full of lies and distortions. Sometimes I feel unmotivated and I also feel things like fear, anxiety and many other things. When this happens I pray and then I wait on God, its the only way that I have found to deal with these feelings.

I agree with you RestoreMySoul. Great advice!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Restoresmysoul]

 

[KnowHisJoy77]

I had been feeling a bit more motivated of late, but losing it again. Discouraged. Don't know why.

Events in the world leave me depressed if I think too much on them. Particularly being too informed I think makes prayer difficult. I'd rather not know everything that goes on so I don't bother following much news.

I draw comfort from the Psalms mainly. But I wouldn't be so depressed if I had a one or two meaningful relationships. Not looking for someone to complain about life to, God knows, just companionship, with people I am not too distance from in interests / outlook.

How do you keep going?

The solution for your depressed feelings based on what you are feeding your mind with over and over is in Phillipians 4 : 8. If we follow God's Word instructions the result is blessed, if not we sure will be sick, worried, depressed, etc and very negative people. That is not the will of God.

We just know what we are to do but we do not obey Him.

 

[KnowHisJoy77]

Another thing about meaningful relationships, get involved in support groups, I love it and tell all to look for support groups. Prayer groups, life groups, bible study groups, there are so many options! Do not isolate yourself, do not make excuses, just do it. Prayfully ask God for His help, and to direct your steps. Take a day at time. New mercies every single day, you can count on Him, He is faithful!

 

[ToBeBlessed]

If you like Christian music here is a link to KLOVE Radio When you are on the KLove page there is a large "Listen Online" button towards the top and to the right. You will stream their radio program through your computer for free.

Love this station. Listen every day.http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[dms1972]

Another thing about meaningful relationships, get involved in support groups, I love it and tell all to look for support groups. Prayer groups, life groups, bible study groups, there are so many options! Do not isolate yourself, do not make excuses, just do it. Prayfully ask God for His help, and to direct your steps. Take a day at time. New mercies every single day, you can count on Him, He is faithful!

Ok, thanks. Yes I have been involved in a community group for over six months - just did it, no excuses, completely different from anything I had been involved with before - had been going for CBT at the time which helped to take the step. Together with prayer

More interested in groups outside of church because well thats where christians are supposed to be salt and light, not in a christian bubble. I think its a shame when churches have activity upon activity - like some of the megachurches and then peoples lives just revolve round those - and society starts to rot. Thats what salt is for to keep things from going off.

 

[dms1972]

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[ToBeBlessed]

Ok, thanks. Yes I have been involved in a community group for over six months - just did it, no excuses, completely different from anything I had been involved with before - had been going for CBT at the time which helped to take the step. Together with prayer

More interested in groups outside of church because well thats where christians are supposed to be salt and light, not in a christian bubble. I think its a shame when churches have activity upon activity - like some of the megachurches and then peoples lives just revolve round those - and society starts to rot. Thats what salt is for to keep things from going off.

There really does need to be a balance. One person here explained it like this and I am going to borrow their example.

When you are on an airplane, before the flight the stewardess does the safety thing. She tells you in an emergency how to use the safety equipment first for yourself (like securing an oxygen mask, for example) because then you are able to help another. Sometimes in our zeal to help others, to shine the light of God and to be the salt of the earth, we forget that we need to keep our relationship with God strong, so we can be a light or salt.

I would suggest you look at your situation and see if you are indeed caring for your own spiritual needs. I hope this helps.

 

[dms1972]

I thought christians were to care for one another - if one is giving out another could be supportive, present, encouraging - that is why I posted here.

If you like Christian music here is a link to KLOVE Radio When you are on the KLove page there is a large "Listen Online" button towards the top and to the right. You will stream their radio program through your computer for free.

Love this station. Listen every day.

I agree with you that christian music is uplifting but I couldn't listen continually to a christian station. So I just listen to CDs mostly,



Not really a big fan of the distinction christian / secular though - if someone is a mature christian and artist their faith will be evident in all their works - like JS Bach. If the singer / songwriter /musician denies the eternal or transcendent then that is different - that is secularised music. But some non-christians are close to true art, because their art is not merely self-expression.

Kenny G for instance I find deadening because he is seems to only care about self-expression : he says for instance: " I just play for myself, the way I play, and it comes out sounding like me."

But John Coltrane another and earlier saxophonist I just listened to and even though hes not a christian he clearly is not stuck in subjectivism and therefore I find his music enlivening, and even sometimes humbling.

He expressed his philosophy of music like this:

"Overall, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is to give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things he knows and senses in the universe. That's what music is to me - its just another way of saying this is a big, beautiful universe we live in, that's been given to us, and here is an example of just how magnificient and encompassing it is. That's what I would like to do. I think that is one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we all try to do it in some way. The musician's is through his music." - John Coltrane

 

[stevenfrancis]

I had been feeling a bit more motivated of late, but losing it again. Discouraged. Don't know why.

Events in the world leave me depressed if I think too much on them. Particularly being too informed I think makes prayer difficult. I'd rather not know everything that goes on so I don't bother following much news.

I draw comfort from the Psalms mainly. But I wouldn't be so depressed if I had a one or two meaningful relationships. Not looking for someone to complain about life to, God knows, just companionship, with people I am not too distance from in interests / outlook.

How do you keep going?

I can recommend only what has been tried and has been successful for my wife and myself. There are at least two Churches where the sacraments of healing, penance, and most importantly the Eucharist are available as often as daily, offering the very real presence of the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, and conveying His sanctifying grace through His holy spirit to the faithful. For my wife and I, who took nearly 40 years to discover God's precious healing gift to mankind, while we wait in blessed hope for His return, this has been a game changer. In every way. A miracle for us really, particularly my wife, obviating further need for SSRI's, ECT, and other man made techniques. God's grace is astounding, and offered freely.

Now looking back after a few years, and seeing how much different our lives are, I am often moved to the edge of tears in gratitude to our Lord and savior. I now read some scripture passages which were very difficult for me to understand before, with a new understanding:

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened; I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon yourselves, and learn from me; I am gentle and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 6:54 Whereupon Jesus said to them, Believe me when I tell you this; you can have no life in yourselves, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood. 55 The man who eats my flesh and drinks my blood enjoys eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 56 My flesh is real food, my blood is real drink. 57 He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, lives continually in me, and I in him. 58 As I live because of the Father, the living Father who has sent me, so he who eats me will live, in his turn, because of me. 59 Such is the bread which has come down from heaven; it is not as it was with your fathers, who ate manna and died none the less; the man who eats this bread will live eternally.

1 Cor 10:15 I am speaking to you as men of good sense; weigh my words for yourselves. 16 We have a cup that we bless; is not this cup we bless a participation in Christ’s blood? Is not the bread we break a participation in Christ’s body? 17 The one bread makes us one body, though we are many in number; the same bread is shared by all.

1 Cor 11:23 The tradition which I received from the Lord, and handed on to you, is that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was being betrayed, took bread, 24 and gave thanks, and broke it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, given up for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.[6] 25 And so with the cup, when supper was ended, This cup, he said, is the new testament, in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, for a commemoration of me. 26 So it is the Lord’s death that you are heralding, whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, until he comes.

Matt 26:26 And while they were still at table, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body. 27 Then he took a cup, and offered thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink, all of you, of this; 28 for this is my blood, of the new testament, shed for many, to the remission of sins.

Mark 14:22 And while they were still at table, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, Take this; this is my body. 23 Then he took a cup, and offered thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said, 24 This is my blood of the new testament, shed for many.

Luke 22:15 And he said to them, I have longed and longed to share this paschal meal with you before my passion; 16 I tell you, I shall not eat it again, till it finds its fulfilment in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took a cup, and blessed it, and said, Take this and share it among you; 18 I tell you, I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine again, till the kingdom of God has come. 19 Then he took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, given for you; do this for a commemoration of me. 20 And so with the cup, when supper was ended, This cup, he said, is the new testament, in my blood which is to be shed for you.

Didache (Christian document of circulation attributed to the Apostles, circa 70 AD)

9 Concerning the Eucharist

9:1 Concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way.

9:2 First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David your servant, which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be the glory forever.

9:3 Next, concerning the broken bread: We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be the glory forever.

9:4 Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. To you is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.

9:5 Allow no one to eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized in the name of the Lord. For concerning this, the Lord has said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs."

Also, of course prayer. Prayer being our conversations with God. We speak our concerns, of course, but also need to have times dedicated to silence and meditation on His Word, in order to hear the answers that God wishes to give you.

I am a prayer "warrior" at another site, and I will take your intentions and difficulties with me to prayer, and to the most Holy Eucharist today as I join with the body of Christ to give thanks and receive in turn, His graces.

May God bless you, and help you to find the light of Christ in everyday matters, and in all you see and do.