God, make a fresh start in me. Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. — Psalms 51:10 (MSG)
I’m the type of person who likes consistency. I like to make plans then implement them so I can maintain a steady flow to my daily routine. Like a creature of habit I’ve developed a regular way of doing things. For the most part, I use one of three favorite cups for my morning coffee, I sit on the same side of the sanctuary at church every week, I usually take the same route to work, or school and I like shopping at the same store to mention a few regularities. Because of my need of consistency, I follow a specific pattern as a way to bring comfortable evenness to my life.
On the other hand, I am also very much the type of person who becomes easily bored with the very routines I implement. The predictability of my life often causes an inner restlessness because while I like consistency, I also long for excitement and change. Nothing too crazy or wild just a little something that reminds me I’m alive.
One might think it would be easy to balance these two opposing sides, but honestly, it’s not. Wanting to be stable and grounded while at the same time wanting variety and adventure and expecting others around me to understand how I’m feeling during these times even though I don’t, can stir up some heated frustration, causing me to feel like a bubbling volcano ready to blow until both sides of my nature is satisfied.
As expected, I’ve discovered I’m not alone in my feelings. Many people want the security of an easy going, predictable life yet find themselves unsatisfied and in a whirlwind of chaos because their bored with their routine and long for change but don’t exactly know how to go about it.
King David understood this self-induced chaos in a different yet very similar way. The King desired to live a secure, solid, obedient life before God, but he too at times became bored. Although he sought direction from God on many matters throughout his life, at times, the matter of balancing his desire for stability verses adventurous change were left un-prayed for and lead him to follow paths that God never intended.
In Psalms 51, we find David confessing to God about one of these so-called paths. David had become bored with the routine of his kingly-life and instead of seeking God for positive change; he took matters into his own hands and had an affair with Bathsheba.
Over time he recognized the consequences of his sin, and confessed the errors of his ways. He then asked God to cleanse him and give him a fresh start, to take the mess he had made out of his life and to create something right and new in which God faithfully obliged.
God will always forgive a person who loses his way if they repent with a sincere heart but wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier if when the monotony of our daily routine builds up and we need some excitement that we ask God for a fresh change instead of taking matters in our own hands?
While our struggles with our dual nature of wanting stability and adventure doesn’t necessarily lead us to sin against God, it sure can cause chaos in our lives. Often when we become frustrated and bored with our daily routine, we begin to take it out on those closest to us. We’re snappy, we’re irritated and some days, downright mean just because we feel like we are in a rut and we need change.
When boredom starts to creep into your life, stop what you are doing and ask God to refresh your spirit. Ask Him for a new outlook, a personal adventure that is aligned with His will for your life. Something that will add the spice you long for but will still bring the stability you desire. God is the one who created both sides of our consistent and radical nature and he knows just how and when to put a fresh wind in our sails while at the same time keeping us on course, if only we ask.
I’m the type of person who likes consistency. I like to make plans then implement them so I can maintain a steady flow to my daily routine. Like a creature of habit I’ve developed a regular way of doing things. For the most part, I use one of three favorite cups for my morning coffee, I sit on the same side of the sanctuary at church every week, I usually take the same route to work, or school and I like shopping at the same store to mention a few regularities. Because of my need of consistency, I follow a specific pattern as a way to bring comfortable evenness to my life.
On the other hand, I am also very much the type of person who becomes easily bored with the very routines I implement. The predictability of my life often causes an inner restlessness because while I like consistency, I also long for excitement and change. Nothing too crazy or wild just a little something that reminds me I’m alive.
One might think it would be easy to balance these two opposing sides, but honestly, it’s not. Wanting to be stable and grounded while at the same time wanting variety and adventure and expecting others around me to understand how I’m feeling during these times even though I don’t, can stir up some heated frustration, causing me to feel like a bubbling volcano ready to blow until both sides of my nature is satisfied.
As expected, I’ve discovered I’m not alone in my feelings. Many people want the security of an easy going, predictable life yet find themselves unsatisfied and in a whirlwind of chaos because their bored with their routine and long for change but don’t exactly know how to go about it.
King David understood this self-induced chaos in a different yet very similar way. The King desired to live a secure, solid, obedient life before God, but he too at times became bored. Although he sought direction from God on many matters throughout his life, at times, the matter of balancing his desire for stability verses adventurous change were left un-prayed for and lead him to follow paths that God never intended.
In Psalms 51, we find David confessing to God about one of these so-called paths. David had become bored with the routine of his kingly-life and instead of seeking God for positive change; he took matters into his own hands and had an affair with Bathsheba.
Over time he recognized the consequences of his sin, and confessed the errors of his ways. He then asked God to cleanse him and give him a fresh start, to take the mess he had made out of his life and to create something right and new in which God faithfully obliged.
God will always forgive a person who loses his way if they repent with a sincere heart but wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier if when the monotony of our daily routine builds up and we need some excitement that we ask God for a fresh change instead of taking matters in our own hands?
While our struggles with our dual nature of wanting stability and adventure doesn’t necessarily lead us to sin against God, it sure can cause chaos in our lives. Often when we become frustrated and bored with our daily routine, we begin to take it out on those closest to us. We’re snappy, we’re irritated and some days, downright mean just because we feel like we are in a rut and we need change.
When boredom starts to creep into your life, stop what you are doing and ask God to refresh your spirit. Ask Him for a new outlook, a personal adventure that is aligned with His will for your life. Something that will add the spice you long for but will still bring the stability you desire. God is the one who created both sides of our consistent and radical nature and he knows just how and when to put a fresh wind in our sails while at the same time keeping us on course, if only we ask.
